Melonellum unites the broad coalition: the committees’ strategy for reaching Palazzo Chigi

Rome. This is the committees’ strategy: the ‘Referendum’ model. Engage, mobilise, expand. The Chamber of Deputies approves the electoral law; the opposition sharpens its weapons and prepares its counter-moves. Giuseppe Conte warns: “You have no idea of the battle that awaits you; we will prevent you from taking power.” Elly Schlein retorts: “We’ll send you home.” Her supporters, with the Demo Foundation at the forefront, are already hard at work, engaging associations and committees in the name of the Constitution. A major public movement is returning. The Melonellum is the glue, the fuel, to move beyond the primaries and the coalition’s internal disputes. The process is still long – and uncertain – but around a hundred initiatives, in various formats, are already planned to explain the risks the reform poses to democracy. (Montenegro continues in Supplement III)

With round-table discussions and primaries still to come, this is where the summer will be spent, and where the broad coalition’s strategy to reach Palazzo Chigi will be shaped. In the Transatlantico, even before the final vote, the Democrat Gianni Cuperlo takes the lead: “This law is even more dangerous than the separation of careers. If we manage to convey this sense of danger, we can reignite the extraordinary mobilisation seen during the referendum.” Cuperlo is the president of the Demo Foundation, which organised an initiative along these lines a few weeks ago in Rome. In addition to political leaders, the event was attended by associations of constitutional experts and journalists, as well as committees already working to prepare legal challenges against the Melonellum. This is the way forward.

Meanwhile, the debate on the electoral law continues in the Chamber; opposition leaders are speaking one after the other, highlighting the government’s failures: “Meloni must go. It’s our turn,” is the gist of it. Conte promises to fight “against the government’s arrogance”. Against Meloni, who has her sights set on the Quirinale. Schlein presses the Prime Minister: “Obsessed with power”. Accusing her of betraying voters on the issue of preferences. She highlights the contradictions. “She’s chasing after Vannacci”. And again: “Prime Minister,” says the Democratic Party secretary, “it is you who have betrayed the Italian people and your election promises”. The vote goes as expected; the Chamber of Deputies approves the ‘Melonellum’ and the opposition – with the exception of Italia Viva – stage a protest, holding up placards reading: ‘Scam law’. A minor scuffle ensues; Riccardo Magi argues with Rossano Sasso; everything proceeds according to plan.

Outside the Chamber, thoughts are already turning to counter-moves and the next steps for the broad coalition as it attempts to define its policy framework and perhaps establish leadership. News arrives from the Senate of the approval of the preliminary agreements on Autonomy – fuel for democratic alarm, the constitutional glue. In the smokers’ lounge, a small group of Democratic Party MPs is gathering. “Now we need to organise a major rally for democracy, starting with the electoral law. We must construct a narrative to explain that they want to undermine the Constitution and weaken the President of the Republic.” Secretary Schlein also passes by. The leaders’ schedules will need to be coordinated, and the political climate is what it is. There are many unknowns, but the direction is clear and allows the broad coalition to avoid the most divisive issues, the Ukraine question above all. And to broaden the scope to include those who, for the time being, are not represented on the parliamentary left. On other issues, however, alignment between the parties will be much easier, such as on opposing rearmament – regardless of each party’s tone. The leaders of the ‘bloc’ reiterate that contact is constant, taking place daily. In any case, they will be together on stage at the Avs festival on 8 September in Rome. Then the policy roundtable should indeed follow, and who knows, perhaps the centrists too. At the refreshment stand, Conte eats a yoghurt and makes a few remarks to journalists: “If we have to give a preview, we’re already in a position to sit down at a table. It will depend on how the government performs. But there’s no need to rush if there’s an election next year.” However, the former prime minister is convinced that Meloni “wants to cling to power”. There is still time, even to decide who will lead the broad coalition. Are primaries really inevitable? “We’ll discuss that in due course.”

The day also features a brief exchange between the former prime minister and Giovanni Donzelli, who are joking – though not entirely in jest – whilst sitting on the sofas in the Chamber of Deputies. Between one quip and the next, the Melonian assures him: “You can rest easy for another year or so. Long live Giuseppe and Elly,” says the FdI workhorse with a smile as he takes his leave. He wants to press ahead, perhaps above all with the electoral law. They can’t say so, but deep down, it might well suit the broad coalition too. The ‘Melonellum’ could be the fuel the left needs. Things will start again in the Senate in September, but in the meantime, the mobilisation has already begun.

Ruggiero Montenegro