Leaders hold talks for three hours and a roadmap emerges: a programme by November, to be discussed by Renzi – despite Conte’s latest attacks – and the centrists from next week onwards. In December, demonstrations against the budget and “in support of an alternative to Meloni”. Delegations from the PD, M5S and AVS are taking part in the USB strike

The leader of the Five Star Movement: “Are the primaries in February coming too late? Don’t tell me that. Let them be open to multiple candidates. It was difficult to be Prime Minister because there were two majorities, but in two and a half years we have turned Italy’s fortunes round.” And on Salvini and Ukraine: “The usual old tune, never consistent.”

Opinion polls are a warning to the centre-left: whoever loses between Schlein and Conte risks driving a section of their electorate to abstain. Meanwhile, the PD is stepping up the pace on its primaries, aiming to hold a vote before the summer and preparing increasingly broad alliances ahead of the 2027 local elections.

Speaking at the Democratic Party conference, the secretary sought to close ranks within the party and announced her bid for Palazzo Chigi: “Let’s debate, but then stand united. A section of the establishment does not want the progressive alliance in government; that is the history of this country.” The vote on the extension of her term of office was passed, but Guerini announced he would abstain: “The motion is not in line with the party constitution.”

Both within the party and when it comes to selecting the centre-right candidate in key cities holding elections, such as Milan, “primaries may be the right option, under the right conditions”, says the Forza Italia MP. “Tajani? He made a general reference to broader forms of participation.”

When is the vote? What about the primaries? And the Court? Bringing order means looking for common threads capable of uniting people who are far apart, but it also means trying to establish, on the playing field, some useful markers to help find one’s bearings. Ideas, after Il Foglio’s party

The Democratic Party is watching the polls with concern and fears it may fall below 18 per cent. The former prime minister is pushing for primaries as soon as possible, the Nazareno faction wants them as late as possible, and amongst the Democrats there are those who dismiss the party leader with the words: “Elly is absolutely awful.”