From Ukraine to abuse of office: the troubles Schlein will have to face today in the direction of Pd

The echoes of Saturday's demonstration organized by the 5-star movement in Rome against the government's labor policies arrive at the table of the national Pd leadership, convened for today at 3 pm after two postponements. On paper, the meeting should have been an opportunity to reunite the dem, but it is easy to predict that the currents - not all convinced of the Schlein line on various aspects - will make their voices heard.

The themes that agitate are different. Overcoming the embarrassment of Schlein's participation in Saturday's grillina demonstration, the dem will have to find a common position on support for Ukraine, surrogate motherhood and abuse of office. Questions on which Schlein will have to seek a difficult balance and mediation, also considering that in the last few hours the criticisms and perplexities towards the secretary have become more explicit. Her participation in the grillina square caused them to detonate.

The dissent, in particular, was channeled into the farewell of Alessio D'Amato to the national assembly. "It was a political mistake to participate in the demonstration", said the former candidate for the presidency of the Lazio Region, arguing with Grillo's "brigades and balaclavas". "I love you, but I don't find myself in this political line", he then concluded in a tweets. It is not yet certain whether he will leave the party, but D'Amato is evaluating it, as he himself admitted.

In short, the square that was supposed to unite the oppositions ended up making the divisions more evident not only between the two center-left parties, but also and perhaps above all in the internal currents of the dem. The embarrassment generated by the cries against support for Ukraine coming from among others Moni Ovadiadid nothing but confirm the tense climate in the opposition, where foreign policy continues to be a decisive issue and the dem position no longer appears as granite as it did a few months ago - one will recall the outcome of the Pd vote on arms in Brussels or the choice of Paolo Ciani (against the sending of weapons) promoted to deputy group leader in the Chamber at the expense of Piero De Luca, son of the Campania governor.

The rest they did the statements of Beppe Grillo – "create the citizens' brigades, put on balaclavas and at night, without being seen, do the chores, arrange the sidewalks, react" – to arouse criticism and embarrassment, thus overshadowing the generic promises (and premises) of collaboration between Schlein and Conte.

Trying to tone it down is Francesco Boccia, president of the dem senators: "Let's not feed sterile controversies and the game of those who want to be the crutch of the right in government, we will never feed the chatter of those who find it difficult to accept Elly Schlein's leadership". It's the same Matthew Ricci, coordinator of the Pd mayors, admits: "Schlein fell into a semi-trap by bringing the greeting of the Pd to the M5s demonstration". The mayor of Pesaro also asks that the constituent phase not stop: more confrontation is needed, greater inclusion in the choices, is the reasoning.

The aftermath of Saturday's protest, however, represent only the latest of the episodes that agitate the Democratic Party. There is for example the surrogacy – with the government bill today in the Chamber – on which the line of the dem continues to be ambiguous. Schlein said she was personally in favour, but many others said they were against the GPA and continue to ask for a discussion which has not yet taken place.

There's also something to stir the spirits the abolition of the crime of abuse of office – approved in the CDM by the government – ​​with the mayors and numerous members of the Democratic Party in favor of the reform, in controversy with the secretariat. All of this will be discussed, behind and in front of the cameras, this afternoon. Looking for a line.