Ciani, the deputy group leader wanted by Schlein stirs the waters in the Dem house: “I don’t subscribe to the Democratic Party and Ukraine can change its opinion on weapons”. Picierno: “Great confusion under the sun”

«I am not a member of the Democratic Party, unlike my colleagues in Article 1. We will obviously not be in opposition, on the contrary. But I am convinced that the centre-left must have a plurality capable of reaching 51% and the Pd alone, I hope, can reach 30%, but that is not enough”.
This was stated in an interview with Repubblica.it by the new deputy group leader of the Democratic Party in the Chamber, Paolo Ciani, of Demos, elected on the Democratic and Progressive Democratic Party-Italy lists. «I’ve been part of the community of Sant’Egidio since I was 14, it’s not that I’m close, it’s really my life. Since I started doing politics, however, I have distinguished the spheres, because Sant’Egidio is an ecclesial reality, Demos a political force». The decision to entrust him with the role of deputy group leader “was certainly a sign of attention by the secretary to Catholics in general – says Ciani – but I’m not from the Democratic Party, so I can’t say: now Catholics feel at home in the Democratic Party” .
In January, Ciani was the only one elected with the Democratic Party to vote against the Ukrainian decree which extended the shipment of arms to Kiev. «In our people there is this discussion, it is a much broader front than how it is represented in Parliament, in the numbers of the group – he explains – After a year and a half of war the party can evolve into new positions. You can even change your mind.” To the GPA «I am against – he says – I am thinking of the positions of the Catholic world but also of those of a part of the feminist world. But I don’t like to engage in ideological battles, so I am in favor of registering the children of LGBT+ couples”.
Troubled waters in the minority
But Ciani is also the man who undermines Piero De Luca, exponent of the Base Riformista minority and son of Vincenzo De Luca, governor whose relations with the Nazarene led by Schlein remain tense. The decision rocked the boat in the minority. It is the failure to confirm De Luca, it is reported, that stirred the waters and led several deputies not to participate in the vote on the “package” proposed by the president Chiara Braga. Just Ciani, a Catholic from the Community of Sant’Egidio, with an independent line with respect to the war in Ukraine could in fact open a front within the party, between those who are against sending arms to the Ukrainians engaged in the war against Russia and who, on the other hand, continues to maintain a favorable position.

The reactions at home on the weapons issue
And reactions within the party immediately followed Ciani’s statements on the weapons case in Ukraine. «You don’t change the line of the PD on Ukraine with an interview. And in any case it would be a mistake ». He says Peter Fassinodeputy dem. Pina Picierno he uses twitter to explain his point of view on the matter: – «Paolo Ciani becomes deputy group leader of the Pd group, he declares that he does not want to join our party but wants to change its line on Ukraine. Great confusion under the sky. However, one thing seems important to me to reiterate: the support of the Democratic Party for the Ukrainian resistance does not change and will not change». Even the deputy dem Philip Sensi he uses social media to explain his point of view: «I esteem and respect Paolo Ciani, his story, his integrity. I’m Catholic, Apostolic, Roman and from the @pdnetwork, I have them all. But my support to the end of Ukraine and the resistance against Russia’s aggression will not waver, will not change. No #slavaukraini».