The interviewOnorato: “I never asked Tabacci for the logo: it’s not a priority.” The councillor for Il Foglio announces that a meeting will be held in October to present the programmeProgetto Civico Italia will meet in Rome on 24, 25 and 26 October to present its electoral platform. “We are ready to collect signatures; we are not concerned with parliamentary representation. Stop linking us to Conte – we are different. Renzi? He’s part of the broad coalition, but we are something new.”byNicolò Zambelli24 SEP 26
The caseTabacci refuses to grant Onorato the party symbol to form a group in the Chamber of Deputies. PcI forced to collect signaturesTo get round the ‘anti-faction’ rule, Rome’s Councillor for Sport is seeking representation in Parliament. He has asked the broad coalition for three MPs, but that is not enough: a party symbol must be submitted by 2022. And the leader of Centro Democratico, who previously supported Bonino and Di Maio, is backing out this timebyNicolò Zambelli23 SEP 26
The videoFemale senators in miniskirts. The response from the PD, M5S, AVS and Italia Viva to TajaniFemale MPs from the opposition gathered in the Sala Garibaldi at Palazzo Madama to protest against the Foreign Secretary’s comments on skirt lengths: “This is an act of freedom,” said Raffaella PaitabyNicolò Zambelli22 SEP 26
The videoOnorato’s U-turn: he asks the PD, M5S and AVS to ‘lend’ him some MPs to get round the hurdle of the signaturesThe founder of Progetto Civico has had a change of heart: two days ago, at the rally organised outside the Senate, he had said he was opposed to this idea: “” Today, however, it is he who is asking the parties across the political spectrum to provide him with MPs to form a parliamentary group. The aim: to collect fewer signatures in order to stand in the electionsbyNicolò Zambelli17 SEP 26
The interviewRocca: “Lotito? No solidarity whatsoever. His problem is his attitude. He wanted to be like Berlusconi but he failed.”The president of the Lazio region defends those under investigation in the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office inquiry, which alleges a plot to oust the president of SS: “I don’t think Masi, Maiolini and Bisignani are involved.” He goes on to say: “I would go back to the demonstration on 2 July. Lotito is incapable of communicating with the fans.”byNicolò Zambelli17 SEP 26
In the ChamberThe Senate has approved the electoral law (with preferential voting). The bill will return to the House of Commons for its third reading.113 in favour, 71 against and 2 abstentions: the Senate has given the green light to the electoral reform. Sparks flew between Luca Pirondini, leader of the Five Star Movement, and President Ignazio La Russa. Among other things, the text reintroduces preferential voting, which will have to be incorporated into a new vote in the Chamber of Deputies.byNicolò Zambelli15 SEP 26
Amidst barricades and suspicionsOnorato (alongside Conte) takes to the streets to protest against the Melonellum. Renzi attacks the M5SA civic initiative is spearheading the protest against the mass petition against ‘cespugli’ and rallying a broad coalition outside the Senate. ‘A fraudulent law, protecting the establishment’. Appeals to the Constitutional Court are ready. There are also flags from Rifondazione Comunista, whilst Francesco Boccia is there representing the PD. But the battle for the centre, ahead of the coalition primaries, is fuelling tensions. There is acrimony between IV and the Movement.byRuggiero Montenegro e Nicolò Zambelli14 SEP 26
The videoHamas and Hezbollah flags appear at the sit-in against the Anti-Semitism Bill (organised by the PD and M5S)At the demonstration against the definition of the IHRA contained in the bill under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, flags of terrorist organisations from Lebanon and Palestine are being waved, alongside that of Iran. Tensions arise with those present. MPs from the broad coalition make a hasty retreatbyNicolò Zambelli9 SEP 26
Voices from TestaccioAvs supporters are praising the broad coalition and raising questions about Ranucci and Albanese as candidates. The only certainty: Renzi is outAt the Green Alliance and Left party rally, ‘the alternative’ gathers, though it remains without a programme or a leader. From the crowd, people shout: ‘Get a move on!’, in thick Roman dialect. Surprise: the Greens like Silvia SalisbyNicolò Zambelli9 SEP 26
The eventGelmini: "The spotlight on Iran has gone out. Let’s take to the streets for the twins who have been condemned and tortured"The senator and former Minister for Education explains to Il Foglio why Noi Moderati will be staging a sit-in outside the embassy in Tehran. “We talk about Hormuz but no longer about the civilian population; the West must stand by them.” The event takes place today in RomebyNicolò Zambelli9 SEP 26