From Rutelli to Prodi, right through to Letta, the centre-left has often struggled to reconcile popular support, power and responsibility. In 2012, Bersani amended the PD’s constitution to open up the primaries to internal candidates as well. Turning them today into a contest between party secretaries would bring forward the proportional representation contest in the general election 

The leader of the Five Star Movement, speaking on the ‘one is worth one’ principle, brings up rearmament: “‘One is worth one’ means that what counts are the citizens who say ‘enough’ to this military escalation”. The green wing of AVS is the most critical: an incorrect statement, “listen to the arguments”. Renzi, speaking at the Leopolda, defends Schlein: “I agree with her from A to Z”

During the executive committee meeting, the secretary of the PD spoke about relations with allies but made no comment on the proposal for a two-round voting system or on the possible candidacy of the former mayor of Bergamo. Malpezzi: “A two-round system allows for a broader consensus.” Zampa: “This way, the party confines itself to a narrow scope.” The group abstained from voting on the report, which was approved unanimously.

The secretary responds to the “fanciful speculations” of recent days: “We’ll be ready as early as tomorrow. The programme is being drawn up with the whole coalition.” And she replies to Conte and his allies: “We are the leading party because we’ve earned it. Generous, yes; naive, no.” But she sidesteps the issue of Ukraine. The report was approved unanimously, but the reformists abstained.

Today’s meeting of the secretariat is to discuss the extension of the mandate and to put a stop to any other Democratic Party candidacies in the coalition primaries, starting with that of the former mayor of Bergamo. However, if Schlein stood as a candidate—in breach of the party constitution—while not a registered member, how can another candidacy now be banned when the party constitution actually permits it? For the secretary, the PD’s constitution is not like the Constitution: it can be changed as and when necessary.

It is not so much the reformists as the members of the Montepulciano faction who are causing the secretary concern. The reformists continue to grumble about the delay with which Bonaccini has convened the assembly to extend Schlein’s term of office. But the real worry remains Conte: with the new electoral law, going it alone and, with Vannacci’s help, aiming for a draw is not impossible

The PD, M5S and AVS reject the definition set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, yet in the past they have actively participated in promoting it in various forums. From the European Parliament resolution to the Carfagna motion, right through to the document adopted by the yellow-and-red coalition government