The campaign towards the European elections of the Italian Democratic Party (PD), the main opposition to Giorgia Meloni, has not started on the right foot. The decision of its leader, Elly Schlein, to present herself as a front candidate in the next European elections has not pleased some old leaders of the party. Schlein, as has become customary in Italy, will run as the head of the PD list in the European elections, although she has no intention of being an MEP. When she is elected she will resign her seat and continue in Rome.
The former president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, has been the most critical. “Asking voters to give their vote to a person who will not go to Brussels is a wound to democracy,” he warned. Another former Italian premier, now at the head of the 5 Star Movement, Giuseppe Conte – an ally of the PD in many local elections – thinks the same, who believes that “the leaders who run are deceiving the voters.” After mid-party criticism, Schlein had to give up putting his name on the list symbol.
Schlein’s objective with his candidacy is to try to strengthen his leadership, which has not aroused enormous enthusiasm. A risky bet, because if the PD turns out worse than expected, she will be the one who will be held accountable. She is not the only one who will go to Europe falsely. So will Antonio Tajani, the new leader of Forza Italia since the death of Silvio Berlusconi. And the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, will surely sign up, and could announce it on Sunday. The party has already wallpapered Rome with its face under the slogan “With Giorgia, Italy changes Europe.”
