UDC bids farewell to Salvini's League and embraces Tajani and Forza Italia: the new pact is ready

Movements in the galaxy of the former Christian Democracy. Between July 8th and 9th, the national council of Lorenzo Cesa's UDC is ready to ratify a turning point: goodbye to the federal pact (which never took off) with the League, moving towards an agreement with Forza Italia in view of the next regional elections and then the general elections. The centrist party is thus saying goodbye to the Carroccio to embrace Berlusconi's creation. A move that benefits both: Cesa and Tajani. They had parted badly in the last general elections: in the end, the UDC did not find space in the blue lists, despite the agreements of the eve. Giorgia Meloni took charge of this as leader of the coalition. Forza Italia finds this new pact with the UDC convenient for a series of phosphorescent reasons. First of all, according to all the polls, the crossed shield as a symbol on the lists brings with it a decent one percent of dowry among nostalgic voters, numbers that are essential to establish itself as the second force in the coalition. And then a centrist wing would protect Tajani from the assault of Maurizio Lupi, leader of Noi moderateti, who has long been presiding over the center in Parliament aiming for the coup of Palazzo Marino, that is, to become mayor of Milan. A protective shield – all to be tested, of course – also to cover itself with the base in the face of the changes in rights repeatedly agitated by the new secretary of FI. On the other hand, Cesa has understood that the “demoleghista” experiment does not have much of a future: the League in the South has chosen Roberto Vannacci and continues to be unattractive. So after having tried to build a complicated systemic alliance with Matteo Salvini he decided to change horses, while remaining on excellent terms with the deputy prime minister, those who know them assure him. In fact, the marriage seemed a bit forced and full of contradictions: on one side the UDC that is in the EPP family and on the other the League that is on the rampage with the Patriots of Viktor Orbán and Marine Le Pen. And yet at the last European elections Cesa built the operation that led to the election of Aldo Patriciello in the southern constituency with the Carroccio: who knows if now he will switch, or rather return, with the Azzurri in Strasbourg. It is not certain. And anyway, that's water under the bridge, now we're changing, thinking about the future. Cesa will try again to build a UDC component in Parliament, but he needs reinforcements that Forza Italia should provide him. At the moment he is in the Chamber and Antonio De Poli in the Senate, plus Nino Minardo, elected with the League and then moved to the Mixed Group. Negotiations are open, that's true. But the choice of political line has already been made, in about ten days it will be communicated. Also because in three months the lists for the regional elections will have to be delivered. Wherever it can, the UDC will go alone, otherwise it will ask for space in the Forza Italia lineup, it depends on the territories. Campania, Veneto, Puglia, Marche, Tuscany: it will be decided case by case. Contacted by Foglio, Cesa confirms the change, without wanting to make any statements. In short, the dance of the center has begun in the name of the DC and its remains. If Gianfranco Rotondi is a proud deputy of Fratelli d'Italia, as is Luciano Ciocchetti. The desire to cover themselves in the center is common to all parties. Starting with that of Giorgia Meloni who last week surprisingly cashed in on the nomination as undersecretary with responsibility for the south of Luigi Sbarra, former secretary of the Cisl, kept under lock and key by the communications of Palazzo Chigi, as one does with silverware. Maurizio Lupi's moves are well known, especially in the Palace where he has bought up former members of Azione, who in turn came from Forza Italia. And at all the tables of the center-right he does nothing but emphasize the results of his candidates around the cities, from Taranto to Liguria. Now Forza Italia is also strengthening and covering itself by singing O bianco fiore. In short, the nostalgic navel of Italian politics, a mysterious unidentified object, is back in fashion in 2025. The one who is deprived of it, after the crazy desire for moderation that ended badly, is Matteo Salvini. Grappling with the lists in the south for the next regional elections: Forza Italia aims to double his percentages. Maybe also thanks to his newfound friends in the UDC.

Simone Canettieri

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