Veltroni’s team is eyeing the Presidency via the Ministry of Culture

There is only one way to curb him, and that is to reward him: elect Veltroni as President of the Republic, appoint him Minister of Culture (he is working towards this). The documentary? It’s by Walter Veltroni. The guest on La 7? Veltroni. The president of the Morricone Foundation? Veltroni. Who is opening the ANCI 2026 celebrations? Veltroni. Need a letter? Veltroni has already written it—but to his granddaughter—and it is a book published by Rizzoli (owned by Marina Berlusconi). The interview in the weekly magazine (Vanity Fair)? It is by Veltroni. There is also the editorial in Corriere, which is by Veltroni. When he sleeps, Veltroni writes at least one screenplay and two sketches, and when he hears the word ‘retirement’, Veltroni might threaten to make yet another documentary that a democratic state must always fund.

When Claudio Durigon discusses ‘quota 64’ and early retirement, he might do well to reflect on the remarkable career of Veltroni, the communist who never was, the ‘esodato’ who is making a comeback. There was a time when the entire city of Rome felt obliged to attend the premieres of his films; there was a time when readers simply had to purchase his latest book and read his latest column; but there came a point when even Veltroni’s supporters, out of sheer necessity, had to beg for mercy: ‘This Sunday, I’m staying at home and watching a comedy film.’ In the meantime, Veltroni is preparing a documentary on the comedy trio Gialappa’s Band, entitled "L’assurda storia della Gialappa’s Band". His energy shows no signs of abating.

It was previewed at the latest Rome Film Festival, but unfortunately the crude and insensitive audience did not flock to the cinema in droves. The documentary took in 100,000 euros in three weeks and has now disappeared from the programme. But this is a country of poets, film-makers and deputy prime ministers. To make this documentary about Gialappa’s, an application for a tax credit has been submitted to the Ministry of Culture. For how much? 850,000 euros. The application was rejected in the first selection round, but hope on the left remains stubbornly united. Only a crass right-wing crowd would call it a flop. Veltroni has made four documentaries and two feature films to date, and critics describe them all as ‘necessary’. Veltroni’s work is always ‘necessary’. Who better than him, after such experience, to reform Italian cinema? To decide what should be funded and what should not?

The news was relayed to us by a musician who worked with the late Morricone: “Veltroni could become Minister for Culture and then set his sights on the Quirinale”. This assessment appears to come from an artist whose father reportedly encouraged him to read L’Unità during his childhood. In a separate note, media entrepreneur Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio has been urged to launch a left-wing newspaper under the straightforward title Bella Ciao! rather than continuing to publish Il Fatto Quotidiano. The discussion is now concluding.

So, D’Alema writes books, Veltroni writes books and makes films, whilst Gentiloni is aiming high and talking about Europe. To reach the Colle, they’re using up vast amounts of paper and film. The irony, however, is that while Veltroni is directing films, Schlein is consulting Gianni Cuperlo, her real contender for the Quirinale. For those who appreciate the arts and are weary of carrying copies of Veltroni’s books to the Libraccio, the only option left appears to be signing the ‘Veltroni for President’ petition. He is pursuing the Quirinale, chasing an Oscar, and instead of votes, he is collecting DVDs.