Pd, pressuring Schlein to run in the European elections: the maneuver to avoid losing the secretariat

To run or not to run in the European elections? For now, Elly Schlein is waiting. And she also resists the pressure that, according to Democratic parliamentary sources, comes from the representatives closest to her. An entry into the field by the leader, it is explained, would help to ‘shield’ the secretariat even with a result below the psychological threshold of 20 percent. The reasoning is that by obtaining full votes on her behalf, no one could challenge the secretary’s appeal to the electorate. Even because, some Democratic exponents say they are convinced, Schlein currently enjoys a consensus that overflows the party’s benches, unlike the ‘brand’ that seems incapable of breaking the 20 percent of the media that polls attribute to it. The game, however, is yet to be played and the competitors seem fiercer than ever. And not just on the right.

Giuseppe Conte continues to “challenge” the prime minister on the hottest issues, first and foremost the MEE, thus accrediting himself to the role of anti-Meloni in competition with Schlein herself. Running for public office, perhaps in a context in which the leader of the Brothers of Italy was also running, would be a way for Schlein to maintain his reputation as an “antagonist” of the first female prime minister. And for that reason, Conte was not going to start persecuting the prime minister and the secretary. The president of M5s explained, in fact, that he has no intention of running. This is due to two reasons: the first is that he does not intend to “deceive” voters with a “fictitious” candidacy that, in any case, would not take him to the Strasbourg Parliament. Whatever the result, in fact, Conte would opt for the headquarters in Rome, as would Schlein, on the other hand. In any case, the M5 has not yet got its hands on the dossier of European lists, true to the “focus on the maneuver” mantra. Now, with the budget law archived, the intention is to address the issue head-on, starting in mid-January.

Around this time, the Democratic Party will also begin to address the issue, based on the role of the leader. If attracting votes with someone’s name tips the scales towards Schlein’s candidacy, there are some factors that are delaying the change: Meloni could obtain many more votes than the secretary and call into question his leadership in the Democratic Party. Then there is the “women’s issue” to consider: some potential candidates from the Democratic Party would not accept a Schlein candidacy, which would take away seats from Democrats who are competing in a group with a prominent exponent, such as Dario Nardella or Nicola Zingaretti. . It is more difficult for Schlein to choose to run in all constituencies.