The strange couple Bonino-Renzi launches the “United States of Europe” list. And Calenda runs (and risks) alone

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In the end, following having started the “Al Centro” electoral campaign alone more out of superstition than conviction, Matteo Renzi he succeeded: the purpose list of the “United States of Europe” launched by the historic radical leader Emma Bonino on February 24th it will be done even without Action Carlo Calendawho continues to place his firm veto on a new political initiative with Renzi following the resounding failure of the Third pole (almost 8% in the 2022 elections).

Yes to the “United States of Europe” list with 5 symbols

At the European elections on 8-9 June there will therefore be the novelty of a single list with the writing “United States of Europe” which refers to the Macronian Renew Europe and which will have the symbols of the adhering parties inside: More Europe, the Renzian Italia Viva, the Libdems of Andrea Marcuccithe socialists of Enzo Maraio and Volt’s pan-Europeans. Today there will be the official announcement, details on the applications in the next few days. Bonino should run as leader of the list in the North West, even if his supporters are pushing for more candidates.

And now Renzi is evaluating the sideways step: no to the candidacy

While Renzi is at this point evaluating his step backwards, or rather to the side, perhaps in exchange for a few more candidacies for his people: having secured his small party, which risked a terrible solo performance, who will make him do it once more? “count” the preference votes on oneself? Especially since the initial agreement made by the participants at the convention launching the purpose list was precisely not to nominate party leaders and/or parliamentarians who had no intention of moving to Strasbourg. The situation is different for Bonino, who is not a parliamentarian (she was defeated in the single-member constituency of the Senate by Carlo Calenda …) and who does not have the role of secretary of Più Europa, a position held by Riccardo Magi.

The satisfaction of the secretary of Più Europa Magi: «We are the real news»

Magi himself, together with Benedetto Della Vedova and Marco Taradash, was one of the most convinced supporters of the project. His satisfaction is evident on the eve of the signing of the agreement: «I am convinced that if we manage to give life to this list – says the secretary of Più Europa without giving up a pinch of superstition in the corner – it will be the real novelty of these Europeans and will be able gather the consensus of all those who are convinced that it is necessary to put the theme of Europe at the center and of a qualitative leap in European political integration towards the United States of Europe and of a qualitative leap in European political integration towards the United States of Europe. It is the most pressing urgency to govern the great questions that the world places before us.” Furthermore, in Più Europa they are convinced that the president Federico Pizzarotti, that between the two litigants of the former Terzo Polo he would have preferred the agreement with Calenda rather than with Renzi, in the end he will not tear it up and perhaps he will even agree to run.

Electoral sign or future third leg of the centre-left?

On paper the new list well exceeds the 4% threshold, which is uncertain for Action alone, and can compete for ground with the Democratic Party by attracting the vote of “reformists” disappointed by the line Schlein. It remains to be seen whether the electoral cartel will have a political following, in short whether a third leg of the center-left can be born in view of the next political elections. But 2027 is far away, in the meantime we’re off. And Renzi secures Italia Viva, leaving only Calenda, who had bet on the failure of the initiative.