October 30, 2024
The next day is that of the pieces. And bitterness. A victory considered “easy”, vanished in the wake of a cruel count and due to one’s own responsibility. She, Elly Schlein, as usual, does not speak. But he lets his thoughts filter through, a re-edition of Pierluigi Bersani’s 2013, “we came first, but we didn’t win.” Which more prosaically means “we have lost”. And the overall picture goes beyond Liguria, and is much more dramatic. Since her inauguration at the Nazarene, the secretary of the Democratic Party has received a heavy 7-1 in the regional elections (starting from Friuli Venezia Giulia in April 1923 and ending with the defeat of Andrea Orlando). In practice, the centre-left won fortunately only in Sardinia and coincidentally with Alessandra Todde, Giuseppe Conte’s favourite. Then a series of poor results, from Molise, to Basilicata, from Abruzzo to Piedmont and Trentino Alto Adige. In the hours following the Ligurian defeat, the Democratic Party took refuge in the excellent result obtained for the list: 28.47%.
Which led to the implosion of his coalition, with its “strong” ally, the M5S, stuck at 4.57%. And with the liberal democratic area which has decidedly settled on the vote for Marco Bucci, as emerges from the flows of the Cattaneo Institute. At the Nazarene, the showdown is approaching. He will wait to complete the electoral round in Emilia Romagna and above all in Umbria, to crucify the “soft” line of the secretary, who after saying no to the vetoes, welcomed those of the M5S, and did not say a word about the exclusion of Italia Viva. The first to declare is the MEP Stefano Bonaccini: «This narrowly missed result must make us reflect (and act) to take a decisive step forward in building a new centre-left, capable of winning».
Then Senator Alessandro Alfieri, the only minority representative in the secretariat: «The political point went beyond Renzi: that no to the leader of Italia Viva would have inevitably been perceived – and therefore exploited – as a no to the centrist part of the coalition». That is, the votes that were in fact missing. Giuseppe Conte is under fire: on the one hand Italia Viva and allies who consider him responsible for the defeat, on the other Beppe Grillo, who yesterday in a Whatsapp story launched yet another stab: «You die more betrayed by the sheep than torn to pieces from the wolf.” Beyond the political skirmishes, however, there are insurmountable problems.
Without an alliance with the M5S, the Democratic Party is destined to come second. At the same time, the new movement designed by the former Prime Minister has valorized only the left component of the original Casaleggio mix. On the left, however, the electorate recognizes the role of Elly Schlein and secondarily of Avs. In this way the Nazarene swells, but the wide field crashes.
Video on this topic
Even in a region where, objectively, there were the best conditions to win. This is the case of Liguria, where Andrea Orlando paid for the divisions but also for the fact of not being the right candidate to challenge a “territorial” mayor. For Pierluigi Bersani, the non-victory of 2013 did not bring much good: he ended up being frozen on the door of Palazzo Chigi and eventually overtaken by Enrico Letta. Elly will have to look at another luxury reserve: Paolo Gentiloni. Meanwhile, in Rome, the mine triggered by the powerful mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who is part of the Democratic Base current, a minority in the party but a majority in the Capitol, has exploded – with a reshuffle of the council carried out without the knowledge of the secretariats.
A feud that required the direct intervention of the national leader, so yesterday Schlein met the mayor at the Nazarene for a clarifying meeting. The attempt is to mend relations but there also seemed to be an invitation to Gualtieri – who is aiming for a second term in 2027 – to involve (his) party in administrative activity. Conclusions translated by Campidoglio with a seraphic formula: «Full sharing of future strategies, unity of intent, support for the work of the administration and valorization of the political and programmatic contribution of the Democratic Party to the relaunch of Rome».
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**Interview with Political Analyst, Dr. Marco Rossi, on the Current State of the Democratic Party and Its Challenges**
**Host:** Good evening, Dr. Rossi, and thank you for joining us. Following the recent regional elections, it seems the Democratic Party is facing significant challenges. Can you summarize the situation for us?
**Dr. Rossi:** Thank you for having me. Yes, the Democratic Party, led by Elly Schlein, has suffered a series of disappointing losses in various regions. Since her inauguration, they’ve faced a daunting 1-7 record in regional elections, with only a victory in Sardinia to celebrate. The situation is quite serious, and it reflects a broader crisis within the centre-left coalition.
**Host:** Elly Schlein has previously referenced Pierluigi Bersani’s famous quote, “We came first, but we didn’t win.” What implications does this have for her leadership moving forward?
**Dr. Rossi:** It indicates a sense of defeatism that may resonate with party members. Schlein’s leadership is now under scrutiny, especially since the Democratic Party’s base is questioning its alliance strategies. They must address the disconnect between their electoral performance and the expectations of their constituents. The phrase echoes the sentiments of past failures and could undermine her ability to unify the party.
**Host:** And what role has the alliance with the Five Star Movement (M5S) played in these results?
**Dr. Rossi:** The M5S alliance was once seen as a crucial partnership, but recent trends show it’s losing popular support. Their low percentage in Liguria demonstrates that without a strong coalition, the Democratic Party risks becoming marginalized. They need to reassess these alliances if they hope to reclaim their position as a leading party in Italian politics.
**Host:** We’ve seen some internal dissent within the party, especially concerning the “soft” approach that Schlein has taken regarding coalition partners. How might this impact her future as party leader?
**Dr. Rossi:** Internal dissent often manifests during times of crisis, especially after poor electoral performances. Figures like Stefano Bonaccini are already calling for a reevaluation of strategy. If Schlein cannot effectively navigate these criticisms and foster unity, her position could become increasingly precarious. The upcoming elections in Emilia Romagna and Umbria will be critical tests for her leadership.
**Host:** what do you think would be the Democratic Party’s best approach going forward to regain its footing?
**Dr. Rossi:** They need a two-pronged approach: first, reassessing their coalition strategies and secondly, renewing their engagement with the electorate. They should focus on creating a compelling narrative that resonates with voters while also addressing the concerns raised by their current coalition partners. A clear, strong leadership position will be essential to rally both party members and supporters.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Rossi, for your insights. It will be interesting to see how the Democratic Party navigates these challenges in the coming months.