In the primaries, Schlein’s chances seem slim. The “multifaceted” Giuseppe Conte moves like the master and Silvia Salis tries the coup.
«Which of the two?». Elly Schleinthen aggressive regional councilor of Emilia-Romagna, must have removed. It was 2020. Passionate about rock and indie music, she devoted herself to Rolling Stone magazine. They asked her: an adjective for Count? And she, a proud antagonist, responded by making fun of the double face of Giuseppi, prime minister at the time. The leader of the 5 starsmeanwhile, has not changed. He remains the greatest shape-shifter ever to appear on the Italian political scene. After the victory on the referendum for justice, her faithful ally doesn’t even give her time to celebrate. He immediately transforms back into a smart three-crush: «This great desire for participation also opens up a different scenario» he begins. To then skewer the cheering secretary of the PD: «Truly open primaries as an opportunity for citizens». Translated: do the Five Star Movements have half of the Piddini votes? Quibbles. “We need to identify the candidate who can be most competitive.” Him obviously. She takes the bait. Only to then retreat after reading the first polls and the reprimands from progressive eminences. However, any possible reverse would mark the end of the very wide field.
Yes, which of the two? The friendly collaborator or the ruthless contender? It doesn’t matter. It’s the «Here it is again». As Indro Montanelli greeted the former prime minister, Amintore Fanfaniused for falls and resurrections. Giuseppi also longs to return to Palazzo Chigi. At all costs. In the absence of better alternatives, it’s his time. He has been waiting for him since January 26, the day he was forced to resign after the raids of Matteo Renzi.
Giuseppi’s shadow and the cracks of the Nazarene
But it’s not just the diabolical Count. Internal challenges risk detonating the PD: see the epic fight between Filippo Sensi And Alessandro Alfieri. The two almost came to blows. Or the eternal return of those “caciques and chieftains” that Elly had promised to eliminate. As Vincenzo De Luca in Campania and Mirello Crisafulli in Sicily: the former governor is running for mayor again in Salerno and the former senator wants to reconquer Enna. The secretary has banned both from using the symbol, but risks embarrassing defeats. The brontosauruses taking revenge on the renovator. It would be an epochal crime, as the irrepressible Mirello would say.
There is not only the hostility of wild vote-catchers, but also the perplexity of the noble fathers. Starting with Romano ProdiSchlein’s youthful idol at the time of the internal revolt with the movement Occupy PD. Now he is forced to clarify his bitter beliefs: “It’s like electing the captain of the team that is defeated by Bosnia.” Giuseppi could triumph. No primaries, says the forerunner of the primaries. Even him: the much-evoked progenitor ofOlivethe only winner of the center-left in the last thirty years. Too late. The recklessness has already expressed itself. He thought he couldn’t escape. And then it was she who won the consultation to lead the PDagainst almost everyone and everything.
Three years in power between currents and praetorians
Elly guide the Nazarene for more than three years. Given the volatility of his latest predecessors, few would have bet on it. But he certainly didn’t revolutionize the party, as he promised. On the contrary. The currents continue to dominate. The usual suspects retain their power unchanged. The Praetorians remain unknown. Yet, it is still there. Nobody aspired to his place. Giorgia Meloni he seemed unbeatable and only Schlein craved the challenge. “May God preserve her for us” they repeated to each other in via della Scrofa, headquarters of Brothers of Italy. Where do we find another one like this? Ideological, rambling, divisive. In fact, the prime minister had chosen her as an antagonist, elevating her to head of the opposition. It was perfect. Giorgia against Elly. Scoppola announced.
But the course of things has changed. The referendum on the separation of careers, a month ago, turns into a survey on the season of discontent. Donald Trump bomb Iran. Italians go crazy at the petrol pump. The endless No front passes off a lie as democratic alarm: the ruthless caste wants to subjugate the upright magistrates. The center left wins by a landslide. Melons he fights, therefore he rejoices in unison. Elly, a sure loser, becomes a candidate to win: a role, suddenly, extraordinarily coveted. Giuseppi throws himself. She sketches. Only to then discover the obvious: half of the party, fearing torpedoing, prefers to get by rather than die.
The mirage of the single party and the rise of Silvia Salis
Reformists, Catholics, deposed. Better a jumble than her. Better Giuseppi, a foreigner in his homeland. The lawyer of Volturara Appula he is a man of the world. Any help would be welcomed and rewarded. Also because, if he really succeeded in his undertaking, he could attempt the hunchback coup: a single progressive party. The very wide field would then be transformed into a new one Olive. He would already have the blessing of two powerful old men who respect the former prime minister and do not skimp on advice: Goffredo Bettini And Massimo D’Alema. After all, it is precisely the Piddino Richelieu who these days remembers the beautiful gesture of “Baffino” way back in 1996: the then secretary of the DS left his candidacy to Prodi. Precisely what foxes and strategists now hope for, convinced that Elly is destined to succumb to the prime minister.
The Count joyful and radiant. He has always kept the “stubbornly unitary” at arm’s length, although he even granted him the victorious candidacy in two regions. First Sardinia ad Alessandra Todde. Then Campania a Roberto Fico. “It’s not an alliance,” said the president of the Five Star Movement. “It’s not an alliance,” he repeats now. No “party primaries”, warns the late people’s advocate. Free everyone, then. Ideal time to settle accounts in PD. So much so that even the candidacy of a reformist is a losing one, for example Giorgio Gorinow it seems insidious.
And then there is the center. That of permanent gravity is personified by Silvia Salis: very blonde and very shrewd. Almost a year ago she became mayor of Genoa. From that moment they begin to predict: only she can beat Giorgia. The newly elected is eager, but she has to get out of it. He doesn’t agree with the primaries, he informs. But then, interviewed by Bloombergcapitulates: «What if they asked me to run for prime minister against Meloni? It would be a lie to say that, faced with a unitary request, I wouldn’t take it into consideration.” In the same hours he organizes a triumphal DJ set in the square in Genoa, with a very cool DJ: such Charlotte de Witte. Instead Elly, a year ago, sang Mon amour di Annalisa on the Gay pride float. Boomer stuff. Relentless approach. And while a photo of the techno priestess with pumps resurfaces from the past Manolo Blahnik in blue satin costing 1,200 euros, one’s thoughts sadly turn to the armochromist hired by the secretariat in the desperate task of suggesting better combinations. Other category.
The challenge of the caruggi and the rubber chicken
In a nutshell: there is no competition. Merciless comparison. And the elections are still a year and a half away. Who knows what else the mayor will invent to amaze her now old competitors. The author of the overwhelming screenplay, moreover, would be such a spouse: the director Fausto Brizziformer prompter at Leopolda di Matteo Renzi. It is no coincidence that the former prime minister is pushing for Silvia to also run in the primaries. But the chosen one is too smart to be ganged up on by the least favorite politician around. It seems that he even refused the strict court of Dario Franceschini: the far-sighted man from whom every leader descends, including the current secretary. This time he would have focused on Salis, who however was niche. They say: she’s already tired of being a mayor. Too many hassles. Unbridled provincialism. The alleys smell. And the foreigners love it more than their fellow citizens, tireless complainers. But she was elected just eleven months ago. Leaving Genoa immediately, after having sworn eternal loyalty, would seem audacious. But not taking advantage of the unrepeatable moment would also be a shame. And what if she really has to be mayor for five years?
Meanwhile, Elly tries to remedy the situation: fades, commas, retracts. He hopes for the people of No to the reform, assuming it exists. He announces a demonstration for “peace and social justice” in May. Trust in young people. But still Count he meets students around universities, given his past as a law professor. Bet on the support of Maurizio Landini. However, he too is courting the secretary of the company CGILwith whom he had splendid relationships while he was a Palazzo Chigi.
The politics are getting closer. In the PD the branch risks becoming a platoon. The willing secretary is nevertheless confident. Hasn’t he already won the primaries once, disproving all predictions? Except that to many it seems like the same okkupato social center jargon has remained. On his account of the deceased Twitter stood out the phrase of Monkey Islandthe favorite video game: «We will save the world with a rubber chicken with a pulley». A nerdy smoke shop that still seems to inspire her. She boasted smugly. They hadn’t seen it coming. Now everyone is waiting for her at the gate.
