The centre-left alliance holds sway in the Regions. But tensions are growing

“We are ready to govern”, said Elly Schlein. It was September 8th and the dem leader spoke from the stage in Reggio Emilia, at the national Unity celebration. Only three weeks have passed but it feels like years. The five points proposed by Schlein to build the alternative to the government of the right – health, work, school, rights and environment – were followed by as many “accidents” along the way which have marked the relationship within the opposition: the European vote on weapons in Ukraine, the one on the refinancing of international missions, the back and forth on the American elections, the veto on Renzi’s entry within the center-left perimeter and, above all, the vote to elect the new Rai Board of Directors. It was the latter, in particular, who made the climate within the center-left incandescent and highlighted a fracture in the Pd-M5s-Avs axis.

“We are consistent, others are not”, was the dem leader’s laconic comment on the choice of Five Star and Avs to participate in the vote. A concept reiterated by Schlein also yesterday, in Milan, before the dem leader underlined how “rebuilding the left is hard work, but it must be done”. Words that break the traditional ‘understatement’ held by Schlein regarding allies and, more generally, regarding the work to weave the fabric of alliances, at a regional and national level. Another tear comes this time in Liguria: the Five Stars reiterate their ‘no’ to Italia Viva. The Renzians respond by giving up expressing their candidates and leaving freedom of conscience to Ligurian voters. And if a Democratic source who closely follows the Liguria dossier assures that, 48 hours before the breakup, there was full agreement among everyone on the lists, the Five Star Movement provides an additional detail: it is true that the lists were practically made, but precisely at that moment an attempt was made to bring back through the window those exponents of Italia Viva who had remained, until then, outside the door. Representing the moderate center in the coalition that supports Orlando will therefore be the only list made up of Action, Republicans and Civic Alliance, in a challenge in which the centre-right has been able to unite once again around the figure of Marco Bucci.

Despite the difficulties, according to parliamentary sources, confidence in the vote seems to remain high. First of all, it is explained why the contribution of Renzian candidates would not have been decisive in terms of votes: Renzi’s party, at a regional level, has seen prominent exponents leave who – this is the reasoning on the part of the Democratic Party – has emptied the electoral base. The second reason that gives the Dems hope lies in the continuous attacks coming from their opponent Andrea Orlando. Marco Bucci has, in fact, raised the bar on the legality front by responding to those who asked him about the challenge launched by Orlando on the topic of the fight against mafia infiltration: “Why is Orlando part of it?”. A joke that provoked the firm condemnation of the Democratic Party: “Instead of insulting, Bucci respond to Orlando’s request for discussion.”

Beyond the competition, the Dems are convinced that the tones chosen by Bucci in this part of the campaign only frighten even more the moderate electorate to which the two candidates seem to want to stake their chips. Winning in Liguria, on the other hand, could have a drag effect on the other two regions in the vote. Umbria and Emilia-Romagna. The Democratic Party’s objective remains to take home one more region than its opponent. We start from 2-1 for the centre-right. In Emilia-Romagna the dems feel they are traveling on velvet. In Umbria the chances are good and there are no fears of repercussions deriving from the rift between Conte and Schlein on Rai. No news of shocks, Umbrian PD sources confirm: the coalition in the region is very broad and has been built over time, on solid foundations. If, then, a three to zero were to arrive, it is added, it would be a result worth remembering.

However, if the coalitions put in place at the local level seem to be holding up, among the centre-left parties the parliamentary transition to RAI has left a legacy of mutual doubts and suspicions. Some of the Democratic Party elected representatives, in particular, believe that the real game will be played on the future leadership of the centre-left. “They want to wear out the Democratic Party for the next three years and then play for the leadership in the coalition primaries, before the vote”, is the thesis. A reading that i Five Stars they decisively reject it by underlining that, if someone “stalling around” had not allowed Matteo Renzi to take center stage, today the opposition would be discussing how to face the challenge of the budget law by making the government and majority throw away their masks. And a ranking member of the M5S observes: “Renzi’s goal is to destroy the 5 Star Movement, he has always made it a personal battle. Is this okay with the PD? Do they realize that it would be lethal for the centre-left?”. In the Campo Marzio area, in any case, the spotlight is on the next maneuver, a test of the Meloni government, but also of the opposition’s ability to influence. So much so that an M5s deputy brands it “crazy” to insist on talking about alliances today.