Magi: “The group? A disgraceful affair. Schlein opted for Rifondazione”

He describes it as “a wretched affair, a petty and ignoble tale, with false allies”. Riccardo Magi is referring to the parliamentary group he tried unsuccessfully to form in the Chamber of Deputies. “The Bureau has become a place where politics is played out,” he tells Il Foglio. He takes the blame on the majority, of course. “Politically, however, it was the absences amongst the opposition that proved decisive.” Yesterday, when the vote was taken to authorise the formation of the group, MPs from IV (Giachetti), Azione (D’Alessio) and M5S (Sportiello) failed to turn up. “A political decision, orchestrated from above.” It ended 9–6. “But if all opposition MPs had been present, it would have ended in a tie. At that point, the majority would have found it difficult to reject the request. It would have been a true act of high-handedness.”

The leader of +Europa had brought together – in addition to Benedetto Della Vedova and Luca Pastorino – Bruno Tabacci with his Centro Democratico and Aboubakar Soumahoro. “We met all the requirements. In the last election, we secured nearly a million votes, comprising 800,000 for +Europa and 150,000 for Tabacci. Others secured a quarter of those votes and yet they have a parliamentary group,” recalls Magi. He explained that his attempt had two objectives. “The first was to use the new parliamentary group to lodge an appeal with the Constitutional Court regarding the collection of signatures required to stand for election. Many constitutional experts, even those in favour of the Melonellum, consider that provision to be unconstitutional and discriminatory.” The move was based on a precedent – another appeal from 2021 – which essentially upheld Magi’s objections: “But the Court had explained to us that, as we did not have a parliamentary group, no specific interest was being infringed. The new group was needed to overcome this obstacle”, thereby making the legal battle more effective. “I therefore approached all the opposition groups, asking for support that never materialised. On the other hand, we have seen a whole series of parliamentary manoeuvres to facilitate the formation of other groups.” Such as ‘Sud chiama Nord’, the group led by Onorato and Maraio thanks to the M5S, and above all – most recently – that of Rifondazione Comunista with the ‘loan’ of Andrea Crisanti. Schlein preferred Acerbo to +Europa. “Exactly. And despite the fact that our appeal was made in the open,” Magi remarks bitterly. Not least because he has a closer relationship with the PD, and furthermore, the battle against Meloni – “who uses subversive rhetoric, as in the video about Youssef Siher’s release from prison” – should have involved the entire opposition without any tactical manoeuvring. “Some on the left were afraid of being decisive. To put it lightly, I’d say they’ve all won the famous Giachetti prize,” jokes Magi, referring to a quip made some time ago by the IV MP: it’s the prize for those with a face like an arse. “And I said as much to Giachetti himself, although I don’t think the blame lies entirely with him.”

According to the leader of +Europa, in short, “political calculations and manoeuvring” have prevailed. How did he explain this? “Our other objective was to initiate a process of convergence amongst the pro-European and liberal-democratic political forces of the centre-left, to move beyond this widespread fragmentation”. Which perhaps suits some people and seems insurmountable: “Of course, it’s complicated when you’re lashing out at a political force with which, in theory, you’d like to form an alliance.” Magi, however, is not giving up. “I’ve called for a united centrist list. Ruffini has done the same, and I’m taking it up again. I believe we could meet as early as the beginning of next week.” Even with Matteo Renzi? For now, he is the only one who does not need to collect signatures; Schlein also seems to have placed her bets on him. “Even with Renzi, provided he intends to have allies and not political hostages. I’ve said it before: there needs to be equality between the parties involved, but I’ve never received a reply. If the conditions are right, we’re open to it.” Meanwhile, tomorrow the broad coalition is meeting. “If they don’t come away from that table with an announcement of an expansion,” concludes Magi, “it means they want a coalition that’s below 40 per cent, one that neither wins nor convinces. They need us, both in terms of numbers and on the issues.” That’s what Renzi maintains too; the centre might perhaps start from here.