Such parties can help to integrate the extremes into the political mainstream, while facilitating alternation in power, which is essential to any democracy’s dynamism; a system in which a large centrist party remained permanently in power would be far less desirable. Those, like Monti, who want to mount a challenge from the center, however personally impressive they may be, have steep obstacles to overcome, and for good reasons.
中右翼大党和中左翼大党的持续结构性竞争或许是件好事。这一党派之争有助于将极端分子纳入政治主流，同时也有助于权力变换，而后者是任何民主国家政治动态的基石；中间道路大党长期掌权的体系要差得多。像蒙蒂这样的试图站在中间道路上发动挑战者，不管个人魅力多么强，要想脱颖而出都面临着艰难险阻，而这样的安排有着充分的道理。