Schlein, a fury against the big names of the Pd | Libero Quotidiano.it

At the end of yet another day of harakiri in the Democratic Party, Arturo Parisi wrote what many were thinking: «I don’t know if they are Conte’s friends or adversaries. But between Franceschini and Speranza and other faction leaders, the race to wear down Elly Schlein continues. Their no to primaries strengthens and spreads the idea that she can only lose them».

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A comment, made on social media by the professor who also brought primaries to Italy, inspirer of the Olive Tree coalition, historical right-hand man of Romano Prodi, minister in center-left governments, which hits the nail on the head of a day disrupted by the exit of another prominent Democrat (who is, moreover, part of the majority supporting Schlein).

The interview of the day, in the center-left camp, is the one Roberto Speranza, former minister of Conte 2, gave yesterday to Corriere della Sera, in which he defined, without mincing words, «primaries as a political mistake». And, therefore, «they must be avoided». Because, whether Schlein wins or Conte wins, they would end up «reducing the mobilization» of both electorates. But what to do if the electoral law under discussion in Parliament, which will be approved when work resumes, introduces the obligation to indicate the premier? Simple: «It would be enough to make a symbolic choice», Speranza replies, «like a newly eighteen-year-old or an elderly partisan».

IRONIES AND TENSIONS
A proposal that, yesterday, aroused a mixture of irony, anger, and bewilderment in the Democrats’ chats. There were, for example, those who forwarded an old sketch by Corrado Guzzanti, re-launched on social media by Luigi Marattin, in which the comedian, in the guise of Walter Veltroni (then secretary of the Ds), attempted an improbable casting of possible premier candidates, from Fichi d’India to Di Caprio, having to note that everyone declined the proposal. Others reflected on how one could think of offering a Resistance gold medalist the role of premier candidate, only to then, after the elections, tell him «thank you and goodbye» and send him home. Even worse if the symbolic candidate were the eighteen-year-old. Another anonymous reflection from a leader: «So we, who fight for young people, for out-of-town voting, for subsidized rents, then nominate an 18-year-old to lead the coalition and, if elected, send him home?».

Not only that. And in the case of TV debates between premier candidates, it was reflected, how would it be done? Who would represent the center-left, dueling with Giorgia Meloni? The partisan or the eighteen-year-old, or Schlein and Conte? And what a gift it would be for Meloni to be able to say that the opposing alignment is so in disarray that it cannot even indicate a premier candidate and is therefore forced to choose a fake candidate?

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LEADER’S FURY
The problem, however, is deeper. And that is why Elly Schlein, who in this case too decided not to reply, was furious yesterday – say those who heard her. Speranza’s statement, as Parisi always noted, follows the statements by Franceschini and «other faction leaders», including Goffredo Bettini. All three, in different ways, but progressively, have warned against primaries, trying to suggest alternative paths.

Bettini did so, only to then align with the gazebos. Franceschini did so, suggesting that everyone run on their own and postpone the choice until after the polls (march divided, to strike united). Messages, statements, that stem from a diagnosis that has a basis: the electorates of the Democratic Party and the M5S have not merged and are not summable. Especially M5S voters would struggle to accept a candidate other than Conte as the coalition leader. And the Democratic Party would risk splitting if Conte were to lead the coalition. In this sense, the reasoning stems from a fact confirmed by pollsters: whatever the outcome of the primaries, the risk is an exodus of voters from one side or the other.

The suspicion that was spreading, however, yesterday in Schlein’s circle, was that the point was not Speranza’s proposal (unrealistic) nor the problem raised by analyses of voters, but rather the underlying conviction: «Our secretary is not good, she makes us lose elections, we must make her withdraw». A doubt, moreover, raised by the big names in her majority. And just days after Elly broke the record for the longest-serving secretary of the Democratic Party, demonstrating her strength on the ground. At Nazareno, yesterday, the order was not to respond. «The line is always the same, either primaries or the party that gets the most votes», was the only reply. But Schlein is furious. And with some reason.

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