From Avs to Calenda in the name of Gualtieri. And in Rome, they’re dreaming of a ‘half-miracle’

Rome. It is no coincidence that they wanted Rome’s Democratic Party mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, to be the unifying figure for the broad coalition, even though he continues to say that what he will do is stand for a second term. And it is no coincidence, then, that Gualtieri is indeed standing for a second term, but with the optimism born of the reality he sees in Rome — bucking the national trend — where a very broad coalition is taking shape around the prospect that its members will return (or join) the city’s governing majority in 2027. And so, in the capital, something is happening that seems like a mirage at national level: the PD is reaching an agreement with the M5S, without a prior contest for every last voter, in the city that once had the long-standing Five Star Movement mayor Virginia Raggi (now set to make the leap into Parliament), and is launching the so-called ‘policy dialogue’ with Azione leader Carlo Calenda (in the sense that Calenda, on certain issues – from transport to the ‘Roma Capitale’ question – is open to discussion, whilst remaining in a position of constructive opposition). With the Five Star Movement, with whom Gualtieri has encountered no shortage of obstacles and roadblocks over the years on policy issues (see: waste-to-energy plant, Roma’s new stadium, housing), the ‘half-miracle’, as a representative of the local broad coalition calls it, has to do not only with the weakening of the rebellious Raggi through her gradual integration into the parliamentary framework, but also with the relationship between Conte and Gualtieri (a former minister in the Conte II government). Although the decisive factor for the coalition’s expansion is the mayor’s reformist profile (in short, one that is not seen as hostile by Renzi and Calenda supporters). It is therefore taken for granted that Five Star Movement representatives may join the council in 2027. It is no coincidence that, a couple of weeks ago, the mayor met with the spokespersons of the allied parties, ahead of more direct talks with the M5S: seated at the table with Gualtieri were, amongst others, Enzo Foschi for the PD, Valerio Zaratti for Europa Verde, Luciano Nobili and Marco Cappa for Italia Viva, Giorgio Trabucco for Progetto Civico Italia and Andrea Silvestrini for the PSI. Upon leaving the meeting, the following comment emerged from the Campidoglio: “A positive and constructive meeting”. A few days ago, it was the turn of Angelo Bonelli and Nicola Fratoianni, who arrived at the Campidoglio for a policy discussion on social policies in the neighbourhoods, and to provide a counterbalance on the left to the flexible alliance formed ahead of the first round.