Elections in the Marche region: Conte and the Five Star Movement support Ricci after the investigation: "There is no reason to step back."

Matteo Ricci will be the center-left candidate in the Marche region . The former mayor of Pesaro and Democratic Party MEP has received the official green light from Giuseppe Conte's Five Star Movement , which, following the notice of investigation received in recent days regarding the so-called " Affidopoli " case at the Municipality of Pesaro during Ricci's time as mayor, had questioned the Five Star Movement's support for the upcoming regional elections on September 28th and 29th .

The "broad field" in the Marche region is therefore safe. Conte announced in a press conference the Movement's approval of Ricci's candidacy: "We have supported Ricci from the very beginning. We are in a coalition and we have shared the platform. It became necessary to evaluate the facts surrounding the judicial investigation to determine whether his honesty is in question. We recently met with our activists and regional and provincial coordinators in the National Council and we determined that there are no current reasons to ask Ricci to withdraw . There are no grounds for doing so, and if we did so, it would set a bad precedent." These were the words of the former Prime Minister and Five Star Movement leader, in which he gave the green light to the Democratic MEP.

The support of Ricci and the Democratic Party was not unconditional . "If any new events should arise, we will draw the consequences," was Conte's first point. He then added that he would ask the Democratic Party MEP "to adopt a legality protocol, " which would also serve to stem the government's actions, which "law after law is achieving the loosening of all legality and anti-corruption safeguards."

The yes vote and the press conference followed a move that had sparked criticism within the Democratic Party: the "analysis" by Conte himself and members of the Five Star Movement's national council of the "investigation documents," namely the notice of investigation delivered to Ricci.

The former mayor was questioned for over five hours on Tuesday as part of the investigation against him. "I'm very satisfied. I answered every question and shared everything I know about the alleged facts and my work as mayor," he said as he left the Guardia di Finanza headquarters where the interrogation took place. Ricci reiterated his complete lack of involvement in the alleged events : "I'm very calm and determined, and now I'm going back to what I've always done: campaigning among the people and for the people."

There is more on the table for Conte and the Democratic Party, in addition to the Ricci-Marche issue: Conte's green light for the Democratic MEP must be read in the light of the agreements on the upcoming regional elections in Campania , where the Democratic Party intends to converge on the candidacy of the former President of the Chamber, the Five Star Movement member Roberto Fico , and in Tuscany , where a second run by the Democratic Party member Eugenio Giani is opposed by a part of the Tuscan Five Star Movement.

Conte attempted to deny the Campania issue at the conference. "If there were even the slightest connection between Ricci and the candidacy we're considering in Campania, it would mean the Five Star Movement is profiteering and I'm a buffoon. There's no connection whatsoever," the former prime minister said, attempting to deflect the issue. Regarding Tuscany, however, the ongoing difficulties between the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement over Giani's name were confirmed. Conte reiterated that "the groups are discussing the terms of an agreement" and noted that the Movement "has opposed this government, so even with the same candidate, joining the government is a significant sacrifice."

These issues prompt Conte to emphasize that an " organic alliance " with the Democratic Party valid in every territory " is not possible given our values . Our base has chosen to define itself as an independent progressive political force."