MP Moretti has received a threatening letter signed ‘Potere al Popolo’. But the party says: “These threats are not ours. We are considering taking legal action.”

"The letter containing death threats to Alessandra Moretti? Potere al Popolo has absolutely nothing to do with it." This was the statement made to "Il Foglio" by Giuliano Granato and Marta Collot, national spokespersons for the far-left party, after PD MEP Alessandra Moretti announced that she had received a letter a few days ago containing threats and a photograph showing a man holding a firearm. This was reported by sources close to the MEP, who explained that the signature at the bottom bore the words ‘Potere al Popolo’. The PD politician immediately reported the incident to the Vicenza Public Prosecutor’s Office: “I am not one to be frightened, nor have I ever been intimidated by the numerous violent threats I have received,” she stated. Women who put themselves forward in politics, journalism or other fields are often the target of unprecedented acts of hatred that must never be dismissed or downplayed as mere student pranks. Those who make threats, or who resort to violence and intimidation, must be punished.” 

The letter, the sender of which investigators are trying to trace, contains threatening statements directed at Moretti’s work in the field of scientific research, particularly regarding vaccination campaigns, the role of the WHO, and the management of migrants and their rights. Potere al Popolo, however, categorically denies any involvement. "Only some imbecile or useful idiot could think that the threats received by MEP Moretti are our doing (and on vaccines and the defence of migrants, of all things?). The mere fact that our name appears at the bottom of a letter clearly does not prove any link to our organisation,” continue Granato and Collot. “Potere al Popolo always acts in the open. We have done so and will continue to do so, criticising and denouncing what is wrong in this country and which, for decades, has meant that workers continue to be impoverished.” It cannot be ruled out that the matter may end up in court. “We are discussing with our lawyers every necessary step to protect our name and our community,” the spokespersons add, “because the damage caused by such serious and unfounded associations is clear.”

The Democratic Party delegation in Brussels expressed immediate solidarity following the news: “No intimidation will make us back down from our commitment to defending democracy, fundamental rights and European values”. Similarly, PD Senator Filippo Sensi commented on X: “Those who resort to violence fan the flames of violence.” But solidarity also came from those who have now completely left the PD, such as European Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno, who stated that “it would, however, be a serious mistake to underestimate incidents such as this. They are a sign of a climate of hatred and political violence that we cannot accept and which requires everyone – starting with those in public office – to tone down the rhetoric and bring political debate back within the bounds of respect and responsibility,” she concluded. 

Setting aside the investigations and denials, Potere al Popolo’s signature on that letter has reignited a conflict that has never truly subsided between the broad coalition and the extremist party. It was, in fact, a delegation from PaP, on 8 July in Naples, that spoiled the broad coalition’s party. On several occasions, chants from activists (carrying PaP flags) interrupted the speeches of politicians from the stage set up in Piazza del Gesù for the first rally of the alliance between the PD, M5S and AVS (the second event is due to take place in Padua). Matters became even more complicated after scuffles broke out between supporters of the parties taking part in the rally and those of Potere al Popolo, following which the leaders of the broad coalition were forced to go down into the square to act as mediators.

For Potere al Popolo within the broader coalition (as they explained in a statement following the protests in July), “there is ample space for pro-rearmament and pro-NATO positions, as well as the obscenity of the Left for Israel. And people like Renzi, the architect of laws such as the Jobs Act”. These are critical positions, very different from those of another far-left political group such as Rifondazione Comunista (with which PaP has long been federated), which, on the contrary, sees the alliance as a valid partner: "We have expressed our willingness to find ways to reach a technical electoral agreement," Maurizio Acerbo, secretary of Rifondazione, assured Il Foglio. There is no doubt that even amongst the leadership of the PD, as well as the M5S, fears of a ‘red coalition’ are circulating, regardless of the protests in Naples.