Schlein calls for unity in the leadership. The reformists participate, but the meeting is merely postponed.

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Elly Schlein pours cold water on the fire: "Let's not waste a single minute arguing among ourselves . Let's focus on the issues that matter to people and the right ignores. In the regions, the alternative is already a concrete reality," she proclaims from the stage at the Nazareno. Last week, her decision to convene the party leadership after more than seven months , just days before the first region to vote (the Marche) and with only one item on the agenda, "the secretary's report," sparked controversy among reformists who have been complaining for months about the lack of internal debate on foreign policy and alliances. Stefano Bonaccini , the loser of the congress and, at least in theory, the leader of the minority, united under the banner of Popular Energy, had attempted to patch things up . But the reformists polemically deserted Saturday's meeting, convened remotely by the MEP and party president, who was considered too closely aligned with the secretary's positions . Yesterday, however, at the meeting, surprisingly, all the reformists were present. Lia Quartapelle, Valeria Valente, Sandra Zampa, and Piero De Luca were present. Lorenzo Guerini, Alessandro Alfieri, Pina Picierno, and Simona Malpezzi were connected. And the secretary extended her hand to them: "Let's not divide ourselves over past affiliations. We are a great, plural force ; let's hold on tight amid all these personal factions." These words were much gentler than those used by Bonaccini , who at the end of last week, to the few who had attended the Energia Popolare meeting, had said: "We need to understand what 'reformists' mean: because there is popular reformism and armchair reformism. I would like to belong to the former." He also did not spare criticism of the foreign policy positions of some reformists: "If we had listened to any of us on Gaza, we wouldn't even be able to participate in our events today." Yesterday he too used more peaceful tones: "The Democratic Party is one of the few political forces that actually discusses, the important thing is to find ways and times."

But the calls for unity will be valid for little longer. Among the reformists, the only one to speak yesterday was Gentiloni's MP Lia Quartapelle: "After the elections, we will find a way to have a thorough and serious discussion on what is happening in the world and on how to counter the right," she said. In short, the discussion has only been postponed. And in fact, as this newspaper reported, in mid-October, after the votes in Marche and Calabria, the reformists will meet in Milan to discuss welfare and growth. "The election results will determine the outcome of the event," a reformist source explained. In other words: if, as is likely, Schlein loses in Marche and Calabria, the only truly contestable regional elections, the Milan event will be the baptism of the new faction without Bonaccini. If, on the other hand, Schlein performs a miracle, the event would become the first attempt to push the reformists' dearest issues onto the party's agenda. The new minority component, but with a weight equal to a quarter of the party, including local administrators, will have three leaders. At the top of the trident is former Prime Minister and European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni , along with the leaders close to him. At the other two poles of this imaginary triangle, on one side will be what remains of the Reformist Base, the former Renzi faction now led by Lorenzo Guerini ; on the other , the Catholic Democrats, whose point of reference is former minister Graziano Delrio . In this scenario, Bonaccini (and also the Lettians) would move firmly into the majority with Schlein. "Besides," a source in the reformist world explains, "Stefano remains Elly's best ally today. He's the one who always gives her the right advice, at the right time."

The emergence of the new faction also has another clear purpose: to prevent those who don't feel represented in Schlein and Bonaccini's united Democratic Party from being forced out of the party. Many fear that the idea of ​​a "reformist house" favored by Franceschini and Bettini, and for which Renzi has begun to lay the foundations, could become not only the fourth leg of the broad camp, but also the confinement to which those who no longer feel at home within the Democratic Party are sent.

Finally, for the secretary, the meeting also provided an opportunity to make an announcement: “After eight years, we can inform you of the definitive exit from social safety nets for Democratic Party workers,” who will now experience “a reduction in working hours with the same salary, because we want to do what we propose by law.”

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