Healthcare, Pnrr and anti-fascism: Schlein and Bonaccini tandem to mobilize Italian squares

MODENA – They speak softly on stage. Then they embrace. They pose for photos with their arms raised in victory. In the end Stefano Bonaccini he even gives her an affectionate pat on the head. The president of Emilia Romagna (and of the Democratic Party) and the secretary dem Elly Schlein they meet together in Modena a month after the gazebos, and compete to prove themselves right on the small stage on the outskirts of the city: a platform in the middle of the greenery, before dinner with three hundred militants.

“Unity” is the watchword. Against the government, and on this the leader and her former challenger are more than in agreement: starting with the defense of public health, on which he invokes “the square” and she the “barricades”. But unity also within the party: “The best guarantee of this is the good we love each other and the fact that we have worked well together in this region”, she assures. Let’s hope, they whisper in the square.

Meanwhile, the two former challengers in the primaries find themselves side by side after more than a month from the gazebo: the two new leaders, with many pitfalls around the corner. In fact, although both have been in Modena since the morning, the face-to-face with Schlein that Bonaccini’s supporters expect on the secretariat arrangements in the end is not done. Even if there is still time to discuss after dinner in San Faustino, the sports club chosen for dinner with the militants by the Modena Democratic Party. Meanwhile, we talk about structures only in public.

On the one hand, the president calls for “respect for pluralism”, after the majority group leaders wanted by Schlein. And on the other she nods: “With Stefano we work together. My line clearly emerged from the primaries, but we will safeguard the pluralism and unity of our party”. Voicemail, she assures her, will arrive in the middle of next week.

We will see. Certainly when they find themselves on stage together, the two agree on everything in the name of a growing Democratic Party: “In recent weeks we have had 16,000 new members” announces the secretary. Then the battles. The one on anti-fascism, of course: “We hope for an anti-fascist April 25th”. But then also on current events. First of all for public health: “The funds allocated by the government are under 7% in the ratio between public expenditure and GDP. This means that there are cuts: we must mobilize and bring everyone to the streets, professionals, citizens, trade unions, volunteers”, he says the governor. She nods and challenges the government on the Pnrr: “We ask for clarity on the state of implementation of the Pnrr, not to raise a finger or protest but to lend a hand, because Italy needs that money”. “Mobilization in the squares and work in the institutions” is Schlein’s mantra, alongside the construction workers for a procurement code that avoids pockets of legality, the rainbow couples for the rights of children and the precarious for the minimum wage. Bonaccini and Schlein smile and embrace each other. “Rest assured, the fighting season is over.” Members applaud louder.