Conte reopens the leadership race: “I was open to a third candidate, but they told me no.” Il Nazareno denies this and Schlein presses ahead

 The Nazareno denies this. But Giuseppe Conte assures Il Foglio that the proposal was delivered, once again, “very, very recently”. And once again, Schlein and her allies have rejected it, with the usual mantra: the leading party in the coalition must nominate the leader, or there will be primaries – despite the fact that an increasing number of Democratic Party leaders are sceptical about the idea of primaries. On the eve of the PD executive committee meeting, convened this morning, the former prime minister has reignited the leadership race. “I do not rely on personal ambitions.” Is there still a chance for the unifier? That is what Avs hopes for, whilst calling for the party programme to be fast-tracked. Conte is taking part in the launch of the book La Principessa. Potere della politica, possibilità dell’impossibile, by David Tozzo, a leader of Sinistra Italiana. Beside him – Elly Schlein had other commitments – are Nicola Fratoianni and the journalist Daniela Preziosi, who is pressing him for answers. “I have stated from the outset that I am willing to agree on a third candidate,” says the M5S leader. But Schlein has said no. And “now the primaries loom”. That is, unless the secretary decides to take an unlikely step aside. But in the meantime, Conte goes further and sketches out the profile of the third candidate. “Not just anyone”, not “a soft figure, but someone who can guarantee a change in policy and grasp the gravity of the moment”. Manfredi, Gualtieri, or could it be Pier Luigi Bersani? The former prime minister does not name names. However, the profile of the historic leader of the left is one that is doing the rounds – or rather, being circulated – amongst the 5S. They are also discussing it with their Democratic Party colleagues. Vittoria Baldino had already put it plainly a few days ago, adding: “We owe him a great deal.” The Democrats, taken by surprise by Conte’s words, have begun to wonder: what game is Conte playing? They fear a trap.

Antonio Misiani, the PD economist, smiles: “A unifying figure? But wasn’t it Conte who called for the primaries immediately after the referendum?” Igor Taruffi – who proceeds “at a mountaineer’s pace; the vote is at least seven months away” – adds: “I’m not aware of any proposal regarding a third candidate. Perhaps they’ve realised that it’s one thing to talk about ‘primaries’ in March, quite another to actually hold them”. Because they’d lose them, is the subtext. But avoiding the polling booths is what they’ve been repeating for weeks at Avs. So much so that yesterday Fratoianni found himself in the role of special envoy for peace within the broad coalition: holding talks with Conte and then with Schlein – given that the two, at least in the Transatlantico, preferred not to be seen together. However, according to the polls, it is the progressive base that is opposed to the primaries. And so are PD leaders such as Speranza and many others. Orlando says: “There is immense concern amongst the party’s grassroots; we should take this into account.” And consider other avenues. Otherwise, whilst the possibility of online voting is being mooted, an “organisational effort to prevent interference” will be needed. The fear remains the same: that the polling booths will turn into a showdown, that the whole thing will fall apart. “Are the primaries divisive? It depends on how we interpret them,” replies Conte. He will, however, have no choice but to play the peace card, saying ‘no’ to arms for Kyiv: this is why the former prime minister has said ‘no’ to the proposal by Bettini – the most Conte-aligned of the Democrats – who is proposing military support conditional on a path to peace. Still, this is too much for the M5S. In any case, a compromise will have to be found at the negotiating table for the party programme, where, according to Schlein, the centrists must take their seats. Who exactly and how many remains to be seen. But will Renzi definitely be there? “The PD has important meetings; let’s wait for these developments and then we’ll decide together,” Conte replies. The ball is now in the Nazareno’s court, where today Schlein will listen to the reformists – from Gori to Guerini – and launch her bid for Palazzo Chigi. It will also be necessary to amend the party constitution to extend her expiring term of office: the Party Assembly is convened for 18 October, a few days after Meloni’s address to the Chamber ahead of the European Council. But how will the PD get to that date?