Boccia: “Two to three million people will vote in the primaries”. Conte presses Schlein on her manifesto

“Mr President, what about this meeting, the agenda?” “We’re ready; we’re waiting for our allies. We certainly can’t meet on our own.” In the Transatlantico, Giuseppe Conte speaks to journalists. He is stepping up the pace, following the push from his supporters, and is already setting the stage for the battle over the next Budget Bill. Some of the demands that emerged from Nova – as the former Prime Minister announced in a video – will be incorporated into a series of proposals to be presented as early as the Budget Bill. A few days earlier, it had been Angelo Bonelli who, in these pages, had been pressing the allies. Now the only one missing from the roll call is Elly Schlein, who has convened the PD leadership on 2 October to rubber-stamp the PD’s proposals as well – those listed from the stage at the Festa dell’Unità. The major sticking point remains the issue of Ukraine, on which work is already underway with the glossary to hand, devising more or less defined forms of support – ‘logistical’, ‘economic’ or ‘tied’ to diplomatic channels. But on closer inspection, the foreign policy issue, whilst the most contentious, will not be the only flashpoint for the broad coalition. Even on the nuclear issue – specifically the enabling bill passed by the right two days ago – there are different nuances. The opposition parties have united against a measure deemed pointless and merely “propaganda”. However, if the issue were to be addressed in the programme, it could prove somewhat more complicated, with AVS firmly opposed, Schlein stating she has ‘no ideological preconceptions’, just as her ally-rival Conte explains he has none. Meanwhile, the centrists are in favour, ranging from IV (incidentally: Vincenzo De Luca will be at the Leopolda with Renzi) to +Europa. Here too, a compromise will have to be found, perhaps focusing on ‘nuclear fusion research’. Even more problematic, however, will be reaching a middle ground on major public works and infrastructure. The M5S and AVS in Piedmont are taking part in protests and sit-ins against the TAV. The PD, as usual, has various factions. More generally, many mayors argue that these projects must proceed; it is not merely a matter of election campaigning, one way or another. Across the broader political spectrum, debate on certain issues, at the local level, is a constant feature. The latest example comes from Bergamo, regarding the airport development plan: the majority led by the PD mayor Elena Carnevale was divided, with representatives from AVS-Futura voting against it. On certain issues, after all, such incidents (or pretexts) are the order of the day; the waste-to-energy plant in Rome was one of the reasons why Conte decided to step down from the Draghi government. Those were different times, however – water under the bridge – as the left hopes, whilst awaiting the electoral law with great anticipation. Conte again, in the Chamber of Deputies: “The mavericks? It seems to me not entirely unlikely that they will crumble. If they were to collapse, it would be a highly significant political development,” replies the former prime minister, who – he reveals – also consults Silvia Salis “when necessary” and takes a dig at Meloni, who prefers Milan Fashion Week to the UN General Assembly. Even within the PD, however, they are keeping a close eye on the ‘Melonellum’. They are also monitoring the Reggio Calabria by-election closely: if Fabio Roscioli were not to be elected, there is a risk that Forza Italia could implode, with repercussions for the (secret) vote on the Electoral Law—that is what they are banking on. In any case, at the Nazareno, they are optimistically expecting a ruling from the Constitutional Court within 60 days. Once the electoral law is settled, the real manoeuvring will begin. This too will be discussed at the executive committee meeting on 2 October: in addition to the programme, the groundwork will be laid for the Assembly in early November (to extend the secretary’s term of office). And then there are the primaries: Schlein is pressing ahead, declaring “we’ll win them”, and wants to hold them in early 2027. The rules will need to be established, and amongst the Democrats – particularly among the reformists – there are those who fear that digital voting could be subject to external, Russian influence. “Online voting? We’ll see; it’s the least of our problems,” says Igor Taruffi to Ping Pong. “We’re not afraid of the centre-left electorate.” Nor are they afraid that the polling stations might tear the broad coalition apart. “The primaries will serve to unite us,” Francesco Boccia is convinced. “Two to three million people will vote.” And afterwards, it will be difficult for anyone to back out or explain it to the voters, is the reasoning. This also applies to those reformists who fear the candidacy of one of their own. For Stefano Bonaccini, it is a “disastrous” prospect. Boccia had already ruled out this possibility in recent days. The real contest will be between Schlein and Conte. Yesterday, a new poll (Sky Tg24) put the Democratic Party candidate in the lead. But the former prime minister is certainly not giving up. And he is winning over students at the Chamber of Deputies, stopping to chat with them before leaving Montecitorio. One of them reveals that she sent him a letter in 2020: “He replied, in his own handwriting.” Another invites him to a conference at Luiss to discuss politics and international affairs: “It would be great to have you with us. Perhaps in a debate with the other side as well.” Conte smiles and accepts. One question remains: is the ‘other side’ Meloni or Schlein?