The heat wave exposed more than rising temperatures—it revealed decades of neglected infrastructure, political drift, and a government that struggles to perform its most basic functions.
If not for the piles of regulation produced by the Berlaymont, air conditioning would likely be far easier and cheaper to obtain by hundreds of millions of Europeans.
A sudden shutdown of cooling at the Berlaymont building has sparked accusations of “feudalism” as ordinary staff swelter on lower floors while high-level commissioners keep their air-conditioning.
A year ago, the environmentalist Left protested against air conditioning in schools and hospitals—now they are calling for installing them immediately.
The ecological issue—a ‘green deal’ driving up energy bills; implementing driving prohibitions in cities; condemning cars before their time; making homes unfit to rent or sell—will be at the heart of the European elections next spring.
Matteo Salvini appealed to police officers’ “common sense” and “discernment” when addressing fines—virtues that unfortunately seem to be disappearing when it comes to environmental considerations.
