Landini: “I won’t be standing for election; after the CGIL, I’ll be retiring. Campo Largo? I don’t like the name.”

“CGIL, CISL and UIL have worked well together.” This was stated by the General Secretary of the CGIL, Maurizio Landini, speaking as a guest on “Un giorno da pecora” on Rai Radio 1, regarding the agreement signed this morning, following lengthy negotiations lasting 18 hours, between the trade unions and employers’ organisations within Confindustria. “Among the various trade union organisations, we had our differences, but what was new was that we put together a common platform; unity and solidarity between workers and trade unions make all the difference. Unfortunately,” he concluded, “this is often lacking, but in this case it is present.” 

Speaking to Rai, Landini went on to say that he will not be attending tomorrow’s meeting at Palazzo Chigi on the budget. “I’d arranged to go in the morning, but then they moved it to the afternoon. I already had other commitments. I’m working on the 20 November strike and I’m out and about at meetings,” he explained. A delegation from the CGIL will, however, be attending the meeting.  

His second term as union leader will expire in January 2027, and cannot be renewed. But Landini says he is not interested in a political career. "I will absolutely not stand for election," he assured, responding to speculation about a possible candidacy in the next parliamentary term. “Precisely to avoid this problem, we have decided to hold the congress after the elections, so we can be sure.” “This is the time for the younger generations,” added Landini, who, when asked what he would do next, replied: “Retire. After 50 years of work, I think I’ve earned it.” Landini then also commented on the ‘broad coalition’ (which he brought together at an event in Rome last week), starting with the term itself: “If I may say so, I don’t much like that name; it conveys nothing – no emotions, nothing at all. Benigni once recounted that his father would say ‘I’m going out onto the field’ every evening at a certain time, because he didn’t have a bathroom in the house. For me, every time I hear ‘broad coalition’, it takes me back to that,” he added. Will he vote in the primaries? “I’ve never taken part in my life,” he replied, “but it is a democratic tool.” As for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Silvio Berlusconi, Landini clarified that “in terms of ideology, Berlusconi was more liberal and less authoritarian”.