“Schlein’s position remains unchanged,” say Baruffi and Alivernini. The primaries remain on the table. Boldrini: “We will consider Speranza’s proposal”

Rome. “Elly’s position remains unchanged,” thunders the party secretariat. And before there’s even time to raise a glass, the bitter cup is already waiting. The interview with Roberto Speranza brushes against Schlein’s lips, just as Schlein is celebrating her record as the longest-serving Democratic Party leader. A fine gift, no doubt about it, and yet “the position remains unchanged”, the PD secretary tells Il Foglio. In Corriere della Sera yesterday, the former Health Minister ruled out the possibility of primaries. A kamikaze move. Suicide. Or, as the man from the Correntone faction put it, “a spectacular own goal”. But the secretary, it was said, is standing her ground. Could it be that Speranza – of the Spinoza faction – is merely a sad obsession? “Elly has always said,” clarifies Schlein’s spokesperson, Flavio Alivernini, “that there are two ways: either we hold primaries, or whoever gets the most votes goes ahead.” Full stop. A stubborn line, as usual, which, however, quite a few within the PD disapprove of. Meanwhile, those close to Speranza tell us that the two have been in touch. That Schlein is, in any case, more composed – or at least less angry – with him than his own supporters (Sandro Ruotolo hung up on us the moment the word ‘primaries’ was mentioned). And that Speranza’s words – harsh, yet coming from the mildest of the Democrats – are the result of a line of reasoning that had been brewing for some time. Could the two ‘hemispheres’ be Andrea Orlando and Dario Franceschini? The latter, in fact, had already said that the primary system, as it stands today, can produce ‘divisive effects’. But the issue, as those close to the former minister explain, is that the primaries raise ‘legitimate concerns’ regardless of whether Conte or Schlein wins. 

Even if the secretary were to take the lead, far more Five Star Movement voters than PD voters would not follow the coalition. Pro-Speranza Democrats cite the BiDiMedia polls in this regard and believe that, with Conte weakened, Alessandro Di Battista could win back the Five Star Movement electorate, finally step forward with his party, and reposition himself – albeit well away from Schlein. Seen in this light, then, even the interview with Speranza would be a love letter to Elly. A way to save the secretary from herself, from Conte, and make her prime minister – but in due course, after the elections. Conte, meanwhile, certainly has none of these problems. And it is also for this reason – it seems – that women and men stubbornly loyal to Elly would be irritated. Who, in fact, can imagine a parliamentary group leader of the Movement – perhaps someone like Stefano Patuanelli – throwing Giuseppe Conte into crisis? Is the grass always (more yellow) green on the other side?

Speranza’s response regarding the symbolic name then seemed rather mocking: to avoid the primaries, it would suffice to indicate on the ballot paper “a newly turned eighteen-year-old or an elderly partisan” (on the hunt for survivors and boy scouts). Although the issue, as one might guess, touches on electoral law. So someone plays it down. Convinced it was a prank by the ‘Melonellum’ and not by Elly. The former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Laura Boldrini, tells Il Foglio: “The PD, in principle, has always supported primaries. As is well known, we strongly oppose this electoral bill proposed by the right, which is a disguised system favouring the Prime Minister because, by having to designate the candidate for Prime Minister, it would effectively strip the President of the Republic of their role. And Meloni, in this way, would avoid another risky referendum whilst achieving the same result.” And what about Speranza’s proposal? “Let’s start by saying that today we are discussing a draft electoral law that has not yet been approved by the Senate, and which has not passed scrutiny by the Quirinale nor by the Constitutional Court. So first let’s wait and see if this has any future – which I doubt…”. And then? “Then, should it unfortunately come to pass, we’ll assess the proposals, including Roberto Speranza’s.” Other PD figures with experience of primaries are far more reserved. We ask for an interview with Gianni Cuperlo, who deflects the question with a literary reference: “I feel like Bartleby.” I’d rather not. And then to Nicola Zingaretti, who deflects the question with talk of his holiday: “I’ll be out until one; let’s speak again later.” In the end, however, Davide Baruffi, a member of the national secretariat, cuts the conversation short once more: “Speranza? He said what he wanted to say. That’s legitimate. But the secretariat’s line is the secretariat’s line. Full stop.”