The Italian city of Bologna can claim several distinctions. It is the home of one of Europe's oldest and most respected universities; it has some of the country's finest food; and it is the center of the "red belt," a geographic swath that has been governed by the left -- and has been the location of some of Italy's worst acts of terrorism. The list of terrorist acts lengthened last week with the murder of Mr. Marco Biagi, a labor adviser to the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Mr. Biagi's murder is a heinous act, a reminder that irrationality lies beneath the surface of even "civilized nations" like Italy. Yet overreaction can also be dangerous. At a time like this, Italy's leaders must understand the need for national unity. Political opportunism will fan the flames of extremism and reaction.
Mr. Biagi, a professor in Bologna who also served as an adviser to the minister of labor, was killed as he bicycled home from work. He was one of the architects of controversial revisions to the country's labor law that would make it easier for companies to fire workers. Italy's labor market is considered to be the most rigid in Europe and is thought to be the chief cause of the country's economic woes. The jobless rate is 9.3 percent, although it is more than double that in some parts of the country.