Summer on the left: Schlein defends the Constitution. Conte between Capalbio and his opposition to rearmament. And Bonelli flies to Brazil

The leaders of the broad coalition will find themselves on the same stage – that of AVS – in September. In the meantime, each is focusing on their own initiatives. From Brazil to Capalbio, via the provinces. The programme talks? They can wait. The primaries? We’ll see. There are those, as rumours suggest within the M5S, who would like to speed things up. Others, however, would prefer to spend a less fraught August, focusing on their own issues. Or on their own book, as in the case of Giuseppe Conte. The former prime minister’s Movement, however, is launching a tour today in Ostia – attended by party leaders, from Paola Taverna to Ettore Licheri – which is already a political programme and may not necessarily please all allies. The next stop will be in Palermo. “La guerra la paghi tu. Come ci tolgono i soldi per spenderli in armi” is the title of an initiative that risks immediately reigniting divisions within the broad coalition, given that even someone like the PD’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Giuseppe Provenzano – who is not Lorenzo Guerini – has explained why SAFE, from a European defence perspective, is a tool that the PD supports. Conte, however, is opposed to it; he reiterated this yesterday and will continue to do so. There will be no shortage of opportunities to do so – after all, there is not only the “No Riamo” tour, but also the book launches. These have been going on for some time now, ranging from highly political events (with D’Alema and Decaro, or with Bettini; there will also be one with the CGIL) to, so to speak, more literary gatherings. Among the upcoming events, he will be appearing on 4 August in none other than Capalbio, the iconic Tuscan resort, considered – rightly or wrongly – a haven for the ‘radical chic’.

Her ally-rival, Elly Schlein, will instead spend the coming weeks on home turf, in the organised, militant province of the Feste dell’Unità. Ever the staunch unifier, she and her supporters are already planning the next (permanent) mobilisation, with an eye on the elections, under the banner of defending the Constitution. With the Melonellum, the opportunity is too good to miss. Yesterday, the secretary announced her own step-by-step itinerary for her party’s events: she will be busy right up until the first week of August. From Tuscany to Friuli, via the Marche and Emilia-Romagna, before – perhaps – a few days’ holiday and then plunging back into the never-ending squabbles of the broad coalition, between the party programme, leadership and centrists of the Matteo Renzi mould – who, two days ago, celebrated the IV summer festival, accompanied by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri on the guitar. The leader of Casa Riformista will also make an appearance at the Democratic Party’s events, on at least two occasions. The impetus comes from PD president Stefano Bonaccini and the governor of Emilia-Romagna, Michele De Pascale, who are convinced that the "Naples model" needs to be scaled up if they are to reach Palazzo Chigi. Renzi will meet with Bonaccini on 3 August in Bosco Albergati, whilst three days later he will travel to Villanova with the regional president. Further invitations are expected, likely including one for the Festa dell’Unità in Reggio Emilia, which is offering a wide-ranging musical programme ranging from Korean K-pop to Cristiano De Andrè, including performances by Subsonica and Elio e le Storie Tese.

And what about the Green Left Alliance? For now, Nicola Fratoianni and Angelo Bonelli’s party has organised local rallies and political schools. The real action will kick off in early September with the national rally in Rome, which will also bring together Schlein and Conte. International guests are expected, and Francesca Albanese – the UN rapporteur whom many would like to see in Parliament in the next election – is likely to return. Who knows? In the meantime, Bonelli is grabbing the headlines, as he’s due to set off for Brazil next week. He’ll be travelling between Rio and São Paulo for a number of election campaigns in support of Lula’s candidates: the Green leader has a personal relationship with the Brazilian president, and this will be an opportunity to strengthen that bond. Bonelli is also expected to meet Thiago Ávila, one of the best-known faces of the Global Sumud flotilla – he was previously arrested by Israel – and now a candidate for federal deputy. “I already know there’ll be controversy,” jokes Bonelli. But then again, he’s used to it. And in any case, it’s always better than the Roman heat or the squabbles within the broad coalition.