The ‘unconventional’ stance on migrants is precisely that of the PD

The secretary of the PD, Elly Schlein, accuses the Danish Prime Minister, the Social Democrat Mette Frederiksen, of having opposed the European left’s line through her agreement with Giorgia Meloni on the need to tackle illegal immigration in Europe. Anomalous, she says. In reality, only Pedro Sánchez’s Spanish Socialists have expressed clear dissent from the Danish Prime Minister, but this only happened after she had criticised the errors in Spain’s handling of the Ceuta crisis. And Sánchez himself has a somewhat eccentric policy on immigration: on the one hand, he regularises the status of illegal immigrants in batches of half a million at a time (mainly those of South American origin); on the other, he has an agreement with Morocco to open fire on anyone attempting to cross the borders with Spain’s African exclaves; and it was precisely Morocco’s decision to break that agreement that triggered the crisis of recent weeks, although it appears it will be renewed in the coming days.

Other socialist parties hold varied positions, particularly if, like their German counterparts, they are part of broad coalitions. Needless to say, the Albanian Socialist Party provides the Prime Minister who agreed with the Italian government to establish the notorious migrant control centre. The fact remains that when the Pact on Asylum and Migration was put to a vote in Europe two years ago, the PES voted in favour of the text (which was also approved by Fratelli d’Italia), with the exception of the PD. It can therefore be inferred that it is not Frederiksen, but Schlein herself, who holds positions that are at odds with European socialism. On the other hand, one must not forget that positions on the migration issue are influenced by the specific circumstances of individual countries, and that geographical location ultimately counts for more than political affiliation. Thus, even overarching political proclamations – on which general agreements may be reached – ultimately have little influence on actual behaviour. Schlein, from the opposition, condemns everyone and everything, but in the end she appears – and not just to the right – to be isolated and unrealistic.