Franceschini’s countdown: primaries in January, and Schlein finds herself in the minority within her own timetable

Dario Franceschini has long admitted to a habit: eavesdropping on strangers’ conversations on trains and in the street, to gauge the mood. And recently, according to Repubblica, what he has heard is not enthusiasm, but weariness towards a progressive coalition that cannot seem to find a leader. So the former Minister for Culture has decided to stop procrastinating, with a proposal that already has a name – the ‘Franceschini ruling’: a two-way primary between Elly Schlein and Giuseppe Conte, in a single round, ‘no later than early February’.

The argument begins with an observation: “We cannot afford to waste time talking about the rules of the primaries. Just as we wasted months discussing a supposed unifying figure.” And it leads to a specific proposal. Since only Schlein and Conte can win, we might as well avoid the parade of other candidates: “Some outsiders might use the polling stations as a sort of stage, even though they know that only Conte and Schlein can win.” With ten challengers, he explains, a two-round system would be needed, because “it is unthinkable to elect the centre-left’s prime ministerial candidate with 18 per cent”, and the first round would simply become “a numbers game”. Better a two-horse race, “transparent in the eyes of the nation”, with one precondition: “By November, common policy points must be agreed upon.” About ten, he imagines, including foreign policy.

There is a problem, and Franceschini knows it: Conte has already said he does not want a head-to-head contest. The response is a proposal for a compromise: “Giuseppe is a reasonable man. When you’re in a coalition, you have to meet each other halfway: on the rules and the faster timetable he is asking for”. In other words, the M5S accepts the head-to-head challenge; the PD agrees to stand. It is also a message to the party leader, who preferred to hold the primaries just before the election. Franceschini does not openly contradict her (he speaks of “two schools of thought”), but concludes that “at this stage, I believe it is best to speed things up”.

As for the rest, the former minister is closing doors that others in the PD wanted to keep open. The unifier? “That’s a closed matter. I believe, and I reiterate, that the era of non-party candidates is over.” Silvia Salis? “An asset for the centre-left”, who could be called upon to unite the moderate wing, but after the primaries, not in their place. On Ukraine, the sticking point dividing the PD and the M5S, the wording is deliberately vague: “By aligning ourselves with a European decision that we must support. There is no magic formula; we will find a compromise.”

The verdict will be put to the test this afternoon at 4 pm in Montepulciano, where the so-called ‘correntone’ of the PD – the faction bringing together Franceschini, Andrea Orlando and Roberto Speranza – is meeting under the banner ‘Ready for the alternative’. Following this morning’s interview, this is the moment when this faction attempts to dictate the timetable for the primaries to Schlein – without openly challenging her, but by proposing a schedule that is not her own. It will then become clear whether Franceschini’s move is an isolated one or reflects the stance of a section of the party which, with just a few months to go before the vote, wants to decide when – and not just whether – the candidate will be chosen.

This afternoon, at 4 pm, the interview will be put to the test. In Montepulciano, in the gardens of Poggio Fanti, the so-called ‘correntone’ of the PD – the faction bringing together Franceschini, Andrea Orlando and Roberto Speranza – is gathering under a banner that speaks volumes: ‘Ready for the alternative’. Following this morning’s interview, this is the moment when this faction attempts to dictate the timetable for the primaries to Schlein. Without openly challenging her, but with a timetable that is not her own. From this, it will become clear whether Franceschini’s move is an isolated one or reflects the stance of a section of the party which, with just a few months to go before the vote, wants to decide when – and not just if – the candidate is chosen.