“After 20 years, we can win.” Schlein, Conte, Fratoianni and Bonelli “united” on stage at Avs. The issues below the photo

 “All we were missing were Renzi and Onorato,” says an AVS executive, throwing his arms wide. Another round, another photo. Further displays of unity. It’s kick-off time and Elly Schlein sounds the charge: “After 20 years, we can win.” On the stage of the Alleanza Verdi Sinistra in Rome, the leaders of the broad coalition come together once more. “Ideas first” is the title that the centre-left mediators Bonelli and Fratoianni have given to the initiative, perhaps to dispel the controversies and the primary elections. They are the ones to play host and to be the first to declare, in unison, that “there is an alternative, we are ready”. It is the mantra that the other leaders – Schlein and Giuseppe Conte, who is the last to arrive – will also repeat later. At the entrance to the red-and-green rally, there are ‘Tax the rich’ T-shirts and fans bearing the slogan ‘damn climate deniers’. Attendees are drinking Gaza Cola; after all, Palestine has been a unifying force for the broad coalition and will continue to be so (today, opposition groups will be taking to the streets against the anti-Semitism bill, alongside Amnesty, civil society organisations and the ANPI. Protesters from Naples, including Potere al Popolo, have also joined the cause).

Angelo Bonelli announces a draft energy bill aimed at reducing costs, which will be backed by all opposition parties. It is the response to the ruling majority’s nuclear energy plans. The hall is packed; Nichi Vendola – who is writing a new book – and Giuliana Sgrena are also in attendance. As we go to press, the rally has only just begun. Journalist Daniela Preziosi is moderating the speeches. The discussion begins with Israel and the genocide, with the leaders appealing to international law. “One of the first things we’ll do if we win the election is to recognise the State of Palestine,” says Schlein, who takes aim at the Israeli settlers. Fabio Mussi, the Communist Party leader and head of AVS who died a few days ago, is remembered. Then come the attacks on Meloni. The dark threat of the AfD, which in Italy goes by the name of Vanacci. One by one, everyone takes the stage to repeat, as always, that “we’re not starting from scratch”, and that much has already been achieved on the programme. Fratoianni goes a step further and says that “after 20 September, after Nova, we must get moving”. And it will be easier than the newspapers make out. Bonelli adds: “Let’s get a move on.”

Yet, whatever the protagonists may say, the issue of leadership always takes centre stage. Plots and counter-plots. Conte has made it clear: there are no alternatives to the gazebos. Or perhaps there are? The interpretation offered by those closest to the M5S leader goes like this: “Let Schlein be the first to take a step back, and perhaps we can discuss it with her.” In other words, another candidate could be sought, but it certainly won’t be the former prime minister who makes the first move in this regard. It’s complicated. Meanwhile, the battle – including the one over the polling booths – is shifting to the centre, with everyone taking their own side. Renzi versus Onorato. The former, as he has stated, is backing Schlein, whilst the latter prefers Conte. Goffredo Bettini is also involved; today, at Garbatella, he is presenting Rinascita at the Visionaria Urban Fest alongside the former prime minister. But since yesterday there has been a new development: a poll by Noto suggesting that the Democratic Party leader would win the primaries, leading not only in the first round but also in the second, securing the bulk of the AVS votes. Many of the previous polls had shown the former prime minister in the lead. “I believe the natural candidate should be the leader of the coalition’s largest party,” Marco Sarracino, from the Montepulciano faction, tells Il Foglio. (Incidentally, the early October event will be confirmed in the coming days, though there are some organisational issues. And Renzi’s Leopolda conference is taking place around the same time). “One of Elly Schlein’s great merits,” continues Sarracino, “is that she has built a competitive coalition, unlike in 2022, when our divisions handed the country over to the right. If any of our allies question this approach and call for primaries, then I think that, in the interests of maintaining the coalition’s unity, primary polls could be a useful solution for determining the leadership that will challenge Meloni.” This is the price of unity, even if some bitterness remains, if not outright vetoes. Conte told La Stampa: “Renzi is costing us votes.” Once again, Sarracino tries to patch things up, urging everyone to focus on the bigger goal: Palazzo Chigi. The vetoes against Renzi? “They are wrong and out of step with history. This is coming from someone who has never voted for the leader of IV.” That may well be the case, but the M5S leader is not the only one who thinks so. “There is no doubt that a significant section of the electorate remembers Renzi’s time in office,” admits Fratoianni. And later, when the IV leader is mentioned from the stage, there is some grumbling. Work within the broad coalition is continuing, but there is still a long way to go. And perhaps a complicated one.