The anti-Conte faction within the PD: “Ukraine is not up for negotiation”

Giuseppe Conte reiterates the Five Star Movement’s opposition to sending arms to Ukraine, calls for an end to what he describes as the ‘warmongering’ stance on military support for Kyiv, and once again urges coalition primaries ‘as soon as possible’. However, his remarks, made on Sunday and interpreted as a political condition imposed on his centre-left allies, have provoked an immediate counter-offensive from the reformist wing of the Democratic Party, which unequivocally defends support for Ukraine and warns that no compromises are possible on European security and foreign policy.

Lia Quartapelle sets the tone of the clash, interpreting the Five Star Movement leader’s statements as calling the entire alliance into question. “Let it be noted that there are those who wish to break up the coalition,” the Democratic Party MP writes in X. “On an issue of the utmost importance to us in the PD, namely the future of Europe and the security of our continent.”

Giorgio Gori takes a similar line, setting a political limit on the agreement with the M5S. “An alliance, yes, and we’ll stick to it, but not at any cost,” writes the MEP. “Support for Ukraine and Europe’s security are non-negotiable.” He then launched an attack on Conte, accusing him of pursuing sovereignist positions: “Those who speak like Vannacci today, and are pushing things too far, should bear this in mind.”

Filippo Sensi is even harsher, turning the comparison with the general elected with the League on its head. “The Vannacci of the broad coalition is getting agitated, promising a pro-Russian agenda and playing at causing chaos,” writes the Democratic Party senator, also evoking the precedent of the ‘yellow-green’ coalition: “Unless he’s aiming for another ‘yellow-green’ alliance. Italians have already experienced that.”

Simona Malpezzi, on the other hand, emphasises the European dimension. “Standing with Ukraine means defending Europe,” says the PD senator, noting that “peace depends on restoring international law, which has been subverted by the aggressor, Putin”. She concludes with a direct message to Conte: “Anyone standing to lead the centre-left can only be on one side; there are no alternatives.”

Piero Fassino also takes issue with the M5S leader’s approach, asking him to clarify what the proposed negotiated solution would actually entail. “Putin has made it abundantly clear that he will never accept an agreement that does not involve the cession of the Donbass,” observes the vice-chair of the Chamber of Deputies’ Defence Committee. “Does Conte consider that demand legitimate? Is this supposed to be the negotiated solution: forcing the Ukrainians to accept the dismemberment of their own country, thereby rewarding the aggressor and punishing the victim?”

The response from the Nazareno leadership was more cautious. The PD’s Head of Organisation, Igor Taruffi, avoids a direct confrontation and attempts to steer the discussion back to the method. Before talking about primaries, he argues, it will be necessary to draw up “a shared programme”, building on the joint work carried out in recent years. Only then will it be possible to select the candidate for Prime Minister through coalition primaries, bearing in mind that “whoever wins will lead the entire coalition and not just a single party”.

According to Alessandro Alfieri, it “would be a serious mistake” to entrust “sensitive issues” such as foreign policy to the primary election campaign. The head of reforms at Schlein’s secretariat responded in this way to Conte’s comments yesterday regarding the primaries as an opportunity to resolve the Ukraine issue. “I believe that anyone standing to lead the country must know how to bring people together,” Alfieri told Adnkronos, “and that such sensitive issues – on which the credibility of a governing coalition is built – must be entrusted to discussions between the parties, which find common ground in the programme that must then unite us all. Regardless of who they support in the primaries. It would, however, be a serious mistake to entrust the solution to the battle of the primaries.” 

The issue of arms for Kyiv is divisive, and “I don’t think we can rely on the primaries to settle this point”, comments Democrat Arturo Scotto on L’Aria che Tira, on La7. “The primaries will have to take place, but before the primaries, we need to establish a common framework that addresses the project, that addresses our shared values, and that also addresses the issues to be resolved in our policy programme.  I would add that we are already 90 per cent there, with work already underway on employment, the economy, healthcare and many other areas,” says the MP. “On foreign policy, we have tabled joint motions on Gaza, on the recognition of the State of Palestine, and on rearmament – the entire centre-left has rejected Trump’s plan for military spending to account for 5 per cent of GDP. So we are not starting from scratch.” From this, a suggestion: “On this issue, I would advise greater caution because if one line of action prevails over another, there is a risk of creating a complicated situation later on at the ballot box. Politics must run its course, and I believe we will find a balance there too,” concludes Scotto.