Schlein rebuffs Conte: “That’s not how it works in Kyiv”. Fratoianni: “Whoever wins the primaries isn’t the leader”

Rome. These days, it seems we need to halt the escalation (within the broad coalition). Elly Schlein does so in her own way: “It doesn’t work like that. First, the shared programme.” The Democratic Party secretary puts the brakes on her ally-rival’s headlong rush, responding to Giuseppe Conte, who claimed that the stance on Kyiv and arms had been decided through the primaries. So much for round-table discussions. “But let’s not get bogged down in internal debates right now,” adds the Democratic Party leader, reminding everyone that the real opponent is Meloni. Yet the former prime minister’s remarks have certainly stirred things up once again, because the prospect Conte has raised – a primary campaign centred on the Ukraine issue – is causing concern within the Nazareno faction (and not just among the reformists). For some Schlein-style leaders, it’s merely political posturing. Grillo and Dibba are waiting in the wings, but the risk is that the Democrats will come across as the warmongers of the broad coalition. Not to mention that it would be very complicated – regardless of who became leader – to keep all the voter bases united. Nicola Fratoianni, who on the substance of the matter shares Conte’s view, gives him the benefit of the doubt: “Perhaps it came out badly.” He then clarifies: “It’s not written down anywhere that whoever wins the primaries is the leader.” And it is not the campaign events that determine the programme, which “is decided beforehand”. When? “From September to November seems reasonable to me,” he replies to Il Foglio. But in the meantime, there’s the summer to get through. Matteo Renzi – who was in the province of Modena yesterday with Bonaccini at the Festa dell’Unità and had already said he was ready to sign an anti-upheaval agreement – is now calling for “an ironclad pact to be signed first: the day after, all together”. For the leader of IV, the horizon – the unifying factor – is 2029, the election of the next head of state. Unity is the prerequisite for defeating Meloni. Riccardo Magi, secretary of Più Europa, is also convinced of this. But not at any cost, because support for Kyiv is essential. Here is the ultimatum: “If the primaries determine the programme, we won’t stand for it. No to the ‘talent show’ approach.” Here too, hopes are pinned on the September talks (and the cooler weather). But first, there is at least the mid-August session to navigate: tomorrow, Giancarlo Giorgetti will address the Chamber regarding the flexibility clause on energy and defence. The opposition will reject the government’s motion, insisting on “no blank cheques”. But so far, it’s straightforward. The aim, as usual, would be to present a unified resolution. But as on other occasions, when it comes to a broad coalition, there’s no guarantee that will happen. Indeed: yesterday there weren’t that many MPs willing to back mediation. Conte’s move is a factor, but so is last week’s precedent: five different motions on international missions. “But splitting up would be daft,” says a PD leader who is closely following the situation. The fear of ending up scattered also exists among even the most staunchly united. Riccardo Ricciardi, the M5S group leader in the Chamber of Deputies, is in fact keeping his options open: “A unified resolution? Let’s see what happens first.” This evening, Giorgetti – on the eve of the statements in the Chamber – will pay a visit to the bureaux of the Budget Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. A request signed by the group leaders at Palazzo Madama from the PD, M5S, AVS and IV – has been sent to Palazzo Madama to gain a clear understanding of Italy’s accounts, to establish a regulatory framework and to prevent the statements from being reduced “to a move of purely political significance that is inconsistent with the approach of the new European governance”, as stated in the letter sent to La Russa in recent days specifically to request the Economy Minister’s appearance. Forget about Safe. Then, Ukraine permitting, efforts will be made to reach an agreement on the resolution as well.

Ruggiero Montenegro