Instructions for the round table. Between high-profile calls, tight deadlines and a touch of imagination: how the broad coalition’s programme is progressing

The first point is that nobody, or almost nobody, wants to talk about the programme meetings. The second is that each working group must reconvene, after putting together a written report setting out the key points of the first meeting. What unites them above all, and without going into too much detail. Today, for example, the group dealing with the South and inland areas (comprising Baruffi and Sarracino for the PD, and Auriemma and Licheri for the M5S) – the one that kicked off the policy cycle on Monday – has been reconvened at 2 pm. This will continue at least until 17 November, whilst in the Transatlantico corridor attempts are being made to decipher Rocco Casalino’s editorial.

Here is Nicola Fratoianni: if Schlein goes to Palazzo Chigi and Giuseppe Conte to the Quirinale, what will Nicola Fratoianni do? “I want to be party secretary. That used to be my greatest ambition,” smiles the co-leader of AVS. And how is the programme coming along? “The teams are hard at work. But are you never satisfied?” he jokes with the reporters. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the discussion continues: amongst the ‘sherpas’ – potential ministers or at least undersecretaries – who are somewhat acting in a provisional capacity, in the sense that, in any case, “it will be up to the leaders to bring everything together and set the priorities”. And the meetings are on a massive scale, both in terms of the number of participants and the substance of the discussions. As is well known, the groups admitted range from the PD-AVS-M5S bloc right through to Matteo Renzi and +Europa. In addition to representatives from Alessandro Onorato’s party, the PSI and so on. But certain round-table discussions, on closer inspection, “could bring together four or five ministries”, as Riccardo Magi quips. This is the case, for example, with “Climate, energy and just transition, the environment, land conservation, agriculture and biodiversity, sustainable mobility and infrastructure”: this was the title of the video call (links were sent out by the PD) which took place yesterday from 9 am to 11 am – according to the programme released by the opposition. The parties, at least at this stage, are not giving too much away. They have limited themselves to stating that the group leaders are taking part, accompanied, where applicable, by MPs with expertise in the relevant sectors (among those present yesterday were Misiani, Grimaldi, Patuanelli and Paita). But apparently, at the end of the discussion, the various political groups were asked to produce a document setting out proposals on the various issues at short notice, not least because time is tight and there is no scope to delve too deeply into the matters. A number of issues were raised yesterday. The thorniest issues appear to have been set aside for the moment: the High-Speed Rail (TAV) debate will come later, as will that on waste-to-energy plants. Or perhaps they will be sidestepped with some linguistic manoeuvring. After all, it is not easy to cover everything in just two hours. Nevertheless, progress is being made, and as everyone keeps saying, ‘we are not starting from scratch’. There are motions and resolutions, shared causes from which to build on. One of these concerns Gaza and will be revived this morning by the opposition with a flash mob ‘to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and call on the Italian government to fulfil its responsibilities’. The recognition of Palestine, after all, will be one of the first acts of a potential centre-left government, as the leaders have repeatedly announced. In short, it will not be the issue up for debate tomorrow at the ‘Peace, Europe, Foreign Policy, Common Defence’ roundtable. Here, the problem remains Kyiv.

Meanwhile, other thorny issues such as the wealth tax and abuse of office will be addressed on Monday and Tuesday respectively. Perhaps a compromise can even be reached, in a programme that will in any case differ from the roughly 250-page document reminiscent of the Prodi era, although the Unione – and indeed the Ulivo – continue to be models cited by many. “The problem is the willingness to reach an agreement,” Andrea Papini tells Il Foglio; he coordinated the working groups for Romano Prodi’s programme between 2005 and 2006 (and also played a central role in 1996). “I wouldn’t want,” he continues, “anyone to think in terms of, so to speak, blackmail.” Or perhaps with an eye on the primaries. “Today, however, the situation is very different from back then.” The policy proposals were arrived at by following a different path. “First, a charter of values was signed; then there were the primaries, which Prodi won. And finally, work began on the programme.” With a somewhat more tried-and-tested alliance. Although even then, certain differences of opinion were not entirely absent. “As with the war in Iraq or civil partnerships, it wasn’t straightforward. I do, however, recall drawing up a report for Prodi listing 11 points on which there was no agreement. The leader then discussed it with representatives from all the parties during a lengthy meeting. Until an agreement was reached.” This time, however, the leader will not arrive until February.