The challenge launched by Elly Schlein to Giorgia Meloni for a face-to-face match in Atreju is an own goal. Meloni accepts the comparison but only if Giuseppe Conte is also there: “It’s not up to me to decide who should be the leader of the opposition.” Schlein: «Then bring Salvini and Tajani too»
The card played by Elly Schlein in view of Atreju did not prove successful. The duel with Giorgia Meloni, proposed by the secretary of the Democratic Party, turned out to be a boomerang after the Prime Minister widened the confrontation, including Giuseppe Conte.
Schlein’s proposal
For the annual Fratelli d’Italia party, scheduled to take place in Castel Sant’Angelo starting from 6 December, the invitation was also delivered to Elly Schlein. However, she had set one condition: she would only participate if she was allowed to meet face to face with the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
Shortly afterwards, the organization manager of FdI, Giovanni Donzelli, had already expressed his opinion on the matter: «If it goes well with everyone, given that we are inviting all the opposition leaders and almost all of them have already accepted, I will bring this proposal to Giorgia Meloni and she will decide. The only thing that interests us is not to disrespect the other leaders of the opposition parties who have given their availability without placing any conditions.”
Meloni’s response
24 hours later, Meloni entrusted his response to social channels. Not shying away from the confrontation, he took up the gauntlet, but relaunched: the leader of the M5s must also participate in the debate. For two reasons. The first «is that Giuseppe Conte, unlike Elly Schlein, even in past years came to Atreju without imposing any constraints. He also did it as Prime Minister.” And the second, the prime minister wrote: «It is not up to me to establish who should be the leader of the opposition, when the opposing camp has not yet chosen one. For my part, therefore, I am open to a unique discussion with both.” A jab that reveals a truth: a duel would have elevated Schlein to opposition leader when in fact he is not.
Conte’s yes
Shortly before Schlein’s participation in Piazzapulita, Conte immediately responded affirmatively to the prime minister’s invitation. While recalling that he had «explored the possibility of a confrontation with Meloni in Atreju also in previous editions» and that he had received the «no», he declared: «Now I read that the prime minister agrees to debate as long as both Schlein and I are on stage. For me it’s always good to discuss things and tell each other how they are. Even “away”, in front of an audience that I respected even when I was Prime Minister and Fratelli d’Italia was not a majority force. I’m certainly not shying away today. There are”.
Schlein retreating
While she was a guest at Piazzapulita, Schlein withdrew: «I’m sorry that Giorgia Meloni refused to make the comparison with me, especially since last year, before the European elections, she had accepted. Maybe today I’m more scared, given the election results.” And perhaps forgetting that at least in the centre-right the leadership is clear, he added: «Do you also want to make a comparison with Giuseppe Conte? Very well, Matteo Salvini would also bring. Do you want to discuss the coalition? Very well, he would also bring Tajani and we will also bring Fratoianni and Bonelli.” It was Donzelli who brought the curtain down on the back-and-forth, communicating in a note: “It’s sad that Elly Schlein ultimately declined the invitation to Atreju again this year.” And he concluded: «When the opposition has a single leader recognized by all we will be happy to welcome in Atreju a direct confrontation between Giorgia Meloni and the identified leader».
Furthermore, already two years ago, Schlein had given up, saying that “the discussion takes place in Parliament”. Ironically over the lack of presence of the secretary of the Democratic Party, the organizers of the event had placed a cardboard cutout in the capital depicting Schlein together with the writing “Atreju” and an image of Castel Sant’Angelo. “So Schlein is there, even if he isn’t there” they commented. Who knows, it might happen again next week.
