The unknown factor of abuse of office in the broad coalition’s programme. Nardella (PD): “It’s wrong to reintroduce it”. Conte flies to the BRICS summit

The programme, as Elly Schein often reiterates, will simply need to be ‘refined’. Because ‘we’re not starting from scratch’ and, over four years in opposition, there have been many shared battles. The latest is the joint letter sent to Meloni following the appointment of the League’s Altieri to ANAC. But there has certainly been no shortage of opportunities for divisions, both between parties and within them. And not just on Ukraine or the wealth tax, as was seen on the CGIL stage. In fact, differences have also emerged over the justice system, and these could soon resurface. Starting with the offence of abuse of office, which was repealed by the right but which Giuseppe Conte’s M5S – who is booking trips to Brazil – wants to reintroduce. An idea that is also likely to find support from AVS. And the PD? “Going back, reintroducing the offence of abuse of office exactly as it was, would be a huge mistake,” Dario Nardella tells Il Foglio. The former mayor of Florence and current MEP has long highlighted the flaws in that measure. Nor does Italia Viva fancy the idea. “In general, we are opposed to reinstating criminal offences,” explain sources at Renzi’s headquarters. A similar stance comes from Riccardo Magi, who wants to avoid excesses on both sides: “But in times of extreme polarisation, it doesn’t work very well,” smiles the leader of +Europa.

Meanwhile, whilst awaiting the first (video) round-table discussion on the programme, scheduled for 2 pm, the broad coalition launched a debate on the justice system yesterday with a public event in Bologna. Schlein was present, alongside representatives from the opposition parties: Giachetti, Cucchi, Todde, as well as Magi himself. It was the first stage – dedicated to the prison crisis (“a failure, exacerbated by this government”, said the Democratic Party secretary) – of a process that is set to continue over the coming weeks. On justice (and security), in any case, there is agreement amongst the opposition parties on various points – the abolition of the Bossi-Fini law and opposition to the right’s punitive approach to crime, for example. The fear, however, is that abuse of office could become a sort of banner to be waved during the primary contest. This is in addition to the differences over Kyiv. Yesterday, Conte – in Rieti with Goffredo Bettini – stood his ground, saying no to arms: “Do we want to drag young people into a war economy? We need a broader vision.” More dialogue: “Must we remain in NATO against the rest of the world?” The former prime minister then announced: “In a few weeks’ time, I will be speaking about artificial intelligence to the BRICS countries in Rio de Janeiro.”

Nardella is keeping his distance from the controversy. But he suggests: “If we sit down to draft the manifesto with the primaries in mind, it becomes complicated. The opponent is Meloni. And as we’ve seen in America, Trump was defeated not by ideology, but by pragmatism.” This will also prove useful when the policy debate with the M5S and other allies gets into full swing. For the PD, however, there could also be an internal issue concerning many of its local councillors – whom Schlein will bring together in Verona on the 27th and 28th of this month. From Gaetano Manfredi to Beppe Sala (and others), before the law was repealed, many had expressed concerns about the offence of abuse of office. Others, as we have reported several times in Il Foglio, had instead welcomed the scrapping of the offence. This is another reason why Nardella urges that the mistakes of the past should not be repeated, suggesting a possible compromise. “If the broad coalition were to reopen the debate, it would have to fully endorse the ANCI’s proposals, which are the most reasonable. The mayors,” he explains, “were calling for a far-reaching reform, arguing first and foremost that the offence of abuse of office must not result in what is known as ‘fear of signing’, with the risk of paralysing administrative activity.” The former mayor of Florence then recalls a second aspect of that battle: “Where there is objective and legitimate administrative discretion, an offence cannot be presumed. This has already caused major problems. Not to mention that almost all such proceedings came to nothing. The case is different, of course, for those who secure a financial advantage for themselves.”

Notes ahead of a discussion that will soon get into full swing: it begins today with the first video call between group leaders, during which they will decide how to proceed, likely with thematic meetings and even face-to-face gatherings starting as early as next week. Also dominating the agenda is the joint demonstration in December against the budget, the date of which has yet to be finalised: on Saturday 5th in Rome there is the Legambiente event, followed by the USB event the next day. This brings us right up to Christmas. More material for the broad coalition.