The three-day event in Montepulciano is underway. Here is the policy document from the PD’s ‘Correntone’ faction

The three-day event in Montepulciano – “Pronti per l’alternativa” – organised by the Franceschini-Orlando-Speranza Democratic Party faction, officially begins today. Sunday 25 October will see the closing session, featuring a speech by national secretary Elly Schlein. Senator Dario Franceschini is addressing this directly: “We need to hold the primaries quickly, by early February,” he told La Repubblica. The approach he envisages is a two-way contest, “with a single round; what’s more, this would shorten the timeframe,” he continued, setting out one condition: “Common policy points must be agreed upon by November.” 

The policy document signed by Correntone appears to be heading precisely in this direction: 11 pages divided (among various topics) between foreign affairs, young people and “a new economic and social model based on work and democracy”. The Correntone’s objective can be found at the end of the document: “A strong party, ready to offer an alternative”. Ideally by the 2027 general election, by which time one of the most intractable issues for all centre-left forces – foreign policy – must also be resolved. “In Ukraine as in the Middle East,” the text reads, “the aim must be a just and lasting peace that rejects any double standards. Just as we have condemned Putin’s illegal war and supported Ukraine, we must condemn with equal firmness the war sought, desired and unleashed by Trump and Netanyahu in the Middle East, and support the Palestinian people’s right to a state. Without ambiguity towards authoritarian regimes – the text continues – the Democratic Party must support the democratic and civil forces committed to freedom and self-determination, reaffirming a universalism of rights that is neither selective nor instrumental.”

Here is the full document.