Alone or with the centre-right: a dilemma for the Liberal Democrats? Andrea Marcucci speaks out

Rome. Where is the centre heading (and where are the centrists heading)? That is the question. As soon as the centre shifts to the left (see Matteo Renzi), there are indeed those who would like to pull it back. If it stands still (see Carlo Calenda), the call goes up: ‘Come over to us’ (to the right or to the left). And if it sways even slightly to the right, someone else says: ‘Tu quoque!’ This time it is the turn of the Lib Dems, a party founded with the intention of occupying the centre to form a liberal-democratic pole, far removed from so-called ‘bipopulism’. And yet, a few days ago, Lib Dem secretary Luigi Marattin outlined the party’s economic and fiscal proposals (cuts to personal income tax and incentives for mergers between SMEs) in the Chamber of Deputies, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her approval. When Marattin was asked whether a channel of communication had already been opened with the government, he replied “not yet”, but added, “If they’re roses, they’ll bloom”. A prospect that Lib Dem leader Andrea Marcucci played down: “An alternative to the right and the left is a vision we owe to many voters”, he wrote on his social media. Meanwhile, Carlo Calenda (to whom Marattin had said, again via social media: ‘You and Pina Picierno go your own way – best of luck’) also commented on RaiRadio1: ‘With Renzi, the Third Pole is impossible; Marattin is going with the right.’ What is to be done? We discuss this very issue with Marcucci, who is convinced that, if there is a desire to move away from the position on which the Lib Dems were founded, one must take “responsibility” for that decision. So: what should we do? “I think Italy needs a liberal bloc,” says Marcucci, “given that the centre-left has radically distanced itself from liberal ideals and that the centre-right does not, at present, have any parties within its ranks that truly champion liberal causes. But I believe there are opportunities for dialogue, and I think it is easier for us to find them with the centre-right today. The centre-left, in fact, by adopting a forced populist approach to opposition, is unlikely to be compatible with our way of being’. The ‘picture regarding alliances’, however, says Marcucci, is different. In what sense? “Italy needs to have, in the future Parliament, a liberal bloc that promotes liberal ideas: meritocracy, the free market, streamlining the public sector, reducing costs for the state, and a European stance – increasingly pro-European and increasingly close to Ukraine. Our party was born from the merger of several organisations with different backgrounds, in the name of a single goal: to create a credible and strong liberal-democratic bloc. But that does not prevent us from engaging in dialogue with anyone’. Marattin has emphasised dialogue with the centre-right. “Our primary objective,” says Marcucci, “is the one approved by our congress. Should we fail to achieve it, it is only right that everyone plays their part”. You have been polled at 1.4 per cent. If a proposal were to actually come from the centre-right, what would happen? “There is a founding document underpinning the creation of this project. I understand that discussions are not straightforward, but I believe we must be determined. If, on the other hand, we were to wish to change the line we have set ourselves, this would have to be decided through the available channels: the executive committee, the assembly, the party constitution and the party conference. Today, the differences with the centre-right and the centre-left are profound. Take public spending, for example: the only thing Meloni has done is ask to be allowed to increase the national debt, which means higher costs and a refusal to make the public sector more efficient; it also means that, save for in slogans, the idea of lowering the level of taxation is not a genuine objective.” Having said that, Marcucci acknowledges that Marattin “has done a tremendous job as secretary and in Parliament, work which has enabled us to feature in almost all the polls today and to be on the rise. So, I’d say the conditions are in place to make the most of this path.” To capitalise on it, however, the natural partners would be Carlo Calenda and Pina Picierno. But the road ahead does not seem to be plain sailing, particularly with Azione. “I’m not making a big deal out of the differences in our personal and political positions. I’ll start from the other end: there is a political need to create a liberal-democratic bloc in the country, and so we must strive in that direction, even at the cost of some personal sacrifice.” If the centre-left or centre-right fail to reach 42 per cent, they will come to you. Roberto Occhiuto would already like to see you in Forza Italia. “In that case, we would be forced to choose, and we’ll see who convinces us the most. But today we need the drive and the ability to put forward proposals that only the liberals have.”