Bettini says: “Renzi? I’d be happy if he stood in the primaries and Silvia Salis ran with yet another party of her own. Calenda? Off you go!”

A summer with Goffredo Bettini, editor-in-chief of Rinascita, the ‘Nautilus of the left’: “I don’t stay behind the scenes; I speak my mind freely: I can’t be blackmailed over jobs.” Speaks Captain Nemo of the broad coalition, Bettini’s twenty thousand leagues. Renzi as a candidate in the primaries, as reported by Il Foglio? “I’d be delighted. It would be a positive move and a sign of transparency.” The mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis? “It’s a conundrum. If she chose to take part in the primaries, she would broaden the support for our coalition as a whole. Not as a representative of the centre.” The ‘third man’ to broker peace between Schlein and Conte? “That’s the title of an extraordinary post-war film by Carol Reed; let’s leave it at that. It sounds better that way. We’ve got far too many leaders as it is.” Carlo Calenda? “He’s hoping for a dead heat. So he can continue down the path of technical, coalition-based, elitist governments that aren’t the expression of a popular vote. I just hope he takes more votes away from Meloni than from us.” And Conte? “He’s at the centre of constant and vicious attacks. The PD isn’t being influenced by him. If anything – and if you want my impression of recent days – I’ve found little solidarity in the face of the insinuations, malice and vulgarity directed at Conte’s family. I believe he has suffered because of this.” He is speaking from the Marche region, where he is presenting his magazine Rinascita in Fano and Senigallia. He confides that lately he “feels more at ease with right-wing intellectuals, such as Pietrangelo Buttafuoco and Marcello Veneziani, than with the reformists”. He recommends reading “the brilliant interview with Buttafuoco, which we published in the print edition of Rinascita; the two thousand copies sold out”. The migrants, the influx from Ceuta, and Meloni’s suspension of Schengen prompt him to say: “Migrants are as essential as bread. Italy is ageing, and our young people, quite rightly, have no intention of doing certain jobs”. Then, before elaborating further on his views regarding borders and closed doors, he responds with a statement that clarifies his stance on the left and security: “Security remains a fundamental issue: anyone who decides to come to Italy must accept the fundamental principles of our Constitution.” He draws a line, his own ‘exclave’: “There can be no free zones of male supremacy, at the expense of children and women. There are no zones of extraterritoriality in our country within which our democratic spirit—founded on the Constitution and anti-fascism—is set aside.” The idea of Renzi’s return to Ithaca, of him standing as a candidate in the primaries himself, not only excites him but he welcomes it as positive news: “Renzi has positioned himself on the centre-left. He has done very well. He’s been a thorn in the Prime Minister’s side. It’s up to him to decide whether to take part in the primaries, should they go ahead. If so, I hope it’s as soon as possible.” The figure closest to Conte – the former Prime Minister’s friend, but also the communist, a member of the PD, the ‘Captain Nemo’ of the PCI – defends Renzi’s tenacity in opposing Meloni. How much influence might Renzi have? Bettini explains: “Given his character and background, it’s difficult to confine Renzi to a ‘container’ with multiple key figures. Fortunately, it’s not up to me to decide. I’ll just say that Renzi may have more influence than the polls suggest for his party.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than I asked him what would happen if Silvia Salis, the mayor of Genoa, were to stand in the primaries. Nemo, like Dario Franceschini, believes there is a need for a centrist force alongside the left, but he envisages a different path for Salis. In his vision, he imagines the M5S, the PD, AVS, the centre, and a new political force led by Salis; a sort of ‘Forza Salis’. In practice, it’s the ‘Pentacampo’. Bettini says: ‘Salis is a puzzle. An intelligent and courageous woman. If she chose to take part in the primaries, she would broaden the support for our coalition as a whole. Not as a representative of the centre. She cuts across the political spectrum. She’s proud of that. She speaks about workers and Palestine. She can attract votes from non-voters of various political leanings. The centre is already well covered. I’ve already mentioned Renzi. And then there’s Alessandro Onorato with his ‘Progetto Civico’, which is expanding at an incredible rate. Furthermore, there’s Enzo Maraio, with the Socialists, who are revitalised and combative. And many other important figures…”. Discussions on the left are centring on the ‘third man’ to resolve any potential conflict between Schlein and Conte, and to avoid a leadership contest. The ‘third man’ is usually a mayor: Manfredi, Gualtieri, or Salis herself. Would Bettini welcome a ‘third man’? As a film buff, Nemo repeats: “The ‘third man’ is the title of an extraordinary post-war film by Reed; let’s leave it at that. It sounds better that way. We have far too many leaders. Legitimised by their work. Elly Schlein, secretary of my party; then Conte, Salis, and the capable leaders of all the coalition parties. Unlike in Prodi’s case – thanks in part to D’Alema’s generosity and foresight – no external, undisputed figure has emerged who is naturally capable of representing everyone.” I realise he is using the word “generosity”, that passport which, on the left, has facilitated stepping aside; in other words: change, for the greater good. It is an important shift and, in the language of the left, heralds the winds of change within the party and the broader progressive camp. Bettini is clear: “We need primaries, as soon as possible.” He is among those who fear a dead heat, the scenario of a purely proportional system, a lack of victory, the future described by Carlo Calenda. Bettini believes it is “offensive to Calenda to keep urging him to remain within the progressive camp”.

Why would that be offensive? He clarifies: “He has chosen to build a Third Pole, and has said he hopes for a draw. To continue down the path of technocratic, coalition-based, elitist governments that do not reflect the popular vote. It is along this path that the Italian left has brought itself down and paved the way for the far right. I just hope he takes more votes away from Meloni than from us. But joining us would only bring ambiguity and confusion. A broad coalition, I’ve said many times! But not a haphazard, ragtag, opportunistic one.”

Before we get to Conte, who will be in Sant’Anna di Stazzema today, let’s discuss migrants. I inform him that Meloni has taken the "Little Mermaid" from the left, formed a partnership with the socialist Prime Minister Frederiksen, and that the left still gives the impression of underestimating the desperate people in Ceuta and Trump’s sinister influence over Morocco. As if to avoid a knee-jerk reaction, Bettini asks: “On security, I’d avoid repeating general platitudes. That is to say, we need to tackle the social causes and the decline of our major cities to resolve the problem. All true. But this mustn’t be a way of passing the buck. There are numerous specific issues, painful experiences that particularly affect the poor, children and women. We must step in where Meloni has failed. Those who are afraid are afraid right now. And right now we need to provide protection and care.” He proposes “hiring more police officers, setting up patrols in every critical area of the country”, and then, “certainty of punishment for criminals, well-distributed street lighting and more robust development of educational, sporting and cultural community centres”. He warns his fellow campaigners: “Do not stir up hatred, which can only breed more hatred. We have a clear-cut chance to score. The right has failed spectacularly; it spreads fear and has no idea what to do.” We conclude with Conte, “the Atahualpa”, as Paolo Conte might sing, who leads the left-wing dance and subdues the PD. Is Conte subjugating the PD? Bettini says: “That question makes me smile. Conte is defending his own electorate single-handedly – an electorate that is crucial to defeating the right. He defends it with dignity and effectiveness.” And shouldn’t the PD defend itself against Conte? Nemo refuses to answer and simply says “no”, because “not only is the PD not influenced by him, but when it has deemed it necessary, it has clearly distanced itself”. Has Conte suffered? Bettini replies: “I can confirm that he has not found sufficient solidarity in the face of the insinuations, malice and vulgarity directed at his family.” With that, he takes his leave to seek out other thoughts, his “treasure”.