Onorato: “Before attacking Bettini, Calenda should take some lithium. He’s a miracle survivor.”

One is a ‘schemer’, the ‘absolute evil’, the owner of slippers worthy of a kiss. The other is the ‘super-charming one’, raised on bread and Lapo, and ‘on Mieli’s lap’. Tensions are rising between Goffredo Bettini and Carlo Calenda. Bettini, the schemer, is accused by the leader of Azione of meddling in the city’s affairs (Rome) and of scheming on behalf of the mayor (Gualtieri). Calenda, the superbone, is portrayed in an article by Bruno Gravagnuolo as ‘the Bey of Algiers dressed by Pietro Micca’. Goffredo reposts it on Facebook from Bangkok, whilst in Rome, Councillor Alessandro Onorato is busy analysing it.

“Calenda? He needs to take some lithium,” the head of Progetto Civico – whom many, including Calenda himself, regard as a follower of Bettini – tells Il Foglio. “Take some lithium, he needs it, believe me.” Lithium aside, could you explain to us in more detail, though, what’s happening in Rome? “Gladly.”

The capital is the political incubator of the Italian left. Here, Azione councillor Alessio D’Amato defended Bettini from Calenda’s wrath. “And he was right to do so.” Is it therefore true, as has been suggested in recent days, that D’Amato was a Democratic Party ‘fifth column’? “D’Amato was an excellent administrator during Nicola Zingaretti’s term as regional governor. Excellent! And if he returns to the broad coalition, it can only be a good thing.” There you have it. Whilst you hope for that, Schlein beats the news agency to it: D’Amato is joining the PD and will contribute to the alternative. “Very good! But let’s be clear: it was Calenda who dumped him and dropped the mask.” And what was behind the mask? “Behind the mask is a man who wakes up one morning wanting to be on the left, wakes up the next day wanting to form a third pole, and opens his eyes the third day wanting to move to the right.” Do you mean he’s confused? “No. I mean he should calm down. His is a party led by a strong leader.” All right.

But what exactly is the problem with Bettini now? “It’s not a problem. It’s a complex.” Really? But is it an intellectual, social or political complex? “All sorts. Calenda accuses Goffredo of having created me.” The in vitro centre, yes. “But the truth is that he’s the one who was created in a laboratory.” But by whom? “It’s easy. By Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Mario Monti. He was appointed as undersecretary – not elected to the Chamber of Deputies – and then promoted to minister thanks to an act of generosity on the part of Matteo Renzi.” Those were different times. By the way, how are things with Renzi? “I often criticise him, as you know. But I can’t help but give him credit for this.” For what? “For the fact that, with Calenda, Renzi was generous. In fact, extremely generous. Although to no avail.” Why to no avail? Wasn’t he a good minister in your view? “Calenda is someone who owes everything to people like Nicola Zingaretti, who wanted him as the lead candidate in the European elections, forcing the north-east to vote for him en masse. He dumps anyone who doesn’t obey him, but he owes everything to the PD’s generosity.”

For you, basically, Calenda is a saint who never breaks a sweat. But where does this famous complex stem from? “From the fact that he was thrust into power thanks to his family background. I, on the other hand, come from nothing.” Do you, like the writers of Rinascita magazine, call him a ‘Pariolo boy’ who grew up in Prati? “Excuse me, but would he ever have become a Member of the European Parliament through preferential votes?” Who can say. “I know the answer: no. He’s a PD miracle who renounces the PD. First he renounces Bettini, who founded it, then the great Franceschini, who kept it alive.” Dario the Great. “Finally, he renounces Renzi, who made him a minister. Do you know what I expect?” Go on. “That one day Calenda will renounce Montezemolo. Surely now he has a clear path to move to the right, and he’ll do it.” Who knows. What is certain is that, as we speak, the Roman councillor D’Amato is moving to the left and returning to the PD. “Good.” The leader of Azione says he’s kissing Bettini’s Thai flip-flops. “Beyond comment.” Let’s wait, then, for the commentary in Rinascita. And let’s hope for an opinion piece by Giuseppe Conte.