“I am always by your side” – Corriere.it

“Fight always pays off.” This is what is written on the t-shirt with the Fiom logo that the workers of Saga coffee gave to Elly Schlein after the company’s rescue Gaggio Montano, arrived after 100 days of tough union initiatives. A symbolic factory in the Apennines depopulated, where more than 220 people worked: 80% women. Schlein, in that period, had spent a lot as vice president of Emilia-Romagna. Schlein is particularly proud of that shirt (and of that battle). So he didn’t think twice and wore it for the great return to the streets alongside the trade unions after the promise made in recent days in Florence, by the temple of the Jobs act (the Leopolda) and always alongside the leader of the CGIL Maurizio Landini: «From now on we will be by your side, in the square».

The strategy of the dem leader rests solidly on one pillar: reconstruct the identity of the Democratic Party, on the left, covering the deep furrow that was dug by Matteo Renzi’s liberal management. “We are aware that there is a need to rebuild trust,” says Schlein as he parades in the middle of the procession. The welcome, following the secretary closely throughout the morning, is quite warm: an answer that hasn’t been seen in the Pd house for some time. The bank in which “Elly” is most successful isnot by chance, that of the CGIL. Dozens of requests for selfies, which she doesn’t shy away from. Many elderly people tug at her shirt: “Elly, do something for pensions”. And the younger ones: “Enough of these hard contracts, you have to do something”. Then there is a face to face with a retired metal worker: “No more precariousness, you can do it!”. Igor Taruffi, Councilor for Welfare in the Region with Bonaccini and now promoted to head of the party organization, does not give up an inch.

Some grumbling is raised from the sectors controlled by Cisl and Uil: «Get politics out of the streets», they shout. Under the stage in Piazza Grande, he embraces Landini. Also because, for Schlein, «Maurizio» is a key element in his extremely difficult ascent to bring the Democratic Party back to around 25%. However, a very delicate piece: the head of the CGIL is at the center of a table with many consensuses at stake and at which Giuseppe Conte also sits. The president of the Five Stars has chosen not to be in this square, because he is working on an independent demonstration to be held in June. But while the Democratic Party rises and the M5S falls in the polls, it becomes increasingly complicated to build that “progressive front” that has remained on paper until now. On a possible alliance Schlein replies as follows: «We spoke with Conte yesterday too: let’s say that agendas don’t always cross, but I am convinced that on these battles there is a convergence with him and with the Five Star Movement on the claims that are brought in the squares”.

In these hours the secretary will have to finalize Tuesday’s meeting with Prime Minister Meloni, who will meet opposition leaders to discuss a possible dialogue on institutional reforms. Then you will leave for the electoral campaign for the administrative elections of 13 and 14 May, the outcome of which will be a test to understand if the Democratic Party, apart from the polls, is actually on the rise.

The secretary will then get back on her stomach to continue the work of rebuilding (on the left) the identity of the party. In this phase, on the wave of the big surprise victory in the primaries, Schlein seems to enjoy a wide margin of maneuver at the Nazarene, also because the interdiction force of the adverse currents has now fallen asleep. And the area that refers to President Bonaccini, rather than attacking, tends to act as a mediator in the event of internal conflicts. The perspective of the leader, while the government can still count on a broad consensus, is clear: to achieve a good result at the 2024 European Championships. Until that key test, Schlein will bet everything on well-selected social battles and identity issues, and there will be no front-line it will always be her.

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