«If Schlein expands the Democratic Party, there will be no split. And no one dances alone»- Corriere.it

Bersani, have you decided to take back the Pd card?

If, as I hope, it will be a new beginning, I will be there too.

Will he fight to change the name of the party?

I wouldn’t mind the reference to work, but the names come after the substance.

With Zingaretti, Orlando and you, will Schlein’s Democratic Party return to the hands of the former PCI company?
Bersani laughs: For me, the company is the Olive tree and if the Democratic Party returns to those people, then yes, the company returns. Evoking the PCI is a simplification. They say to me too that I was the most liberal in Italy, but for them I remain the communist. Communism dead, but anti-communism lives on.

Did you like the debut of the new secretary?

early to tell. Certainly there is a novelty that contains an element of adventure. But stasis is decadence, so there is a positive outlook on this restart. Being a woman helps a lot. A slogan like “woman life freedom” is equivalent to freedom, goodness, fraternity.

Is the Schlein-Meloni duel a revolution?
But yes, this century will be the historic revenge of women. Meloni-Schlein means that we are European.

To beat the right, alliances will have to be made.
Schlein is faced with three demands. The first is to keep the enlargement and the call open, because for a few people who have arrived there is a great many who can be engaged in a new project. The second is the constituent path, a plural party stays together only if there is frank discussion of the essential political issues. The third priority is the construction of the field.

If Letta’s wide field fails, won’t a Pd moved to the left be smaller?

I am amazed by the politicking and abstractness of this topic. The people who voted in the primary told the Democratic Party, but also Conte and Calenda, “there’s the right, wake up!”. If one organizes a project on inequality, dignity of work, climate change, social and civil rights, are they dealing with peripheral issues? No, it deals with the crux of the issue concerning workers, the middle classes, entrepreneurs… Seeing a retreat in Schlein’s perspective is absurd.

Will there not be a split between the former Renzians?

Political viability is the condition for it not to exist. If Schlein expands the Democratic Party and causes it to be discussed, I am convinced that he will be able to keep it together.

So Bonaccini who invokes unity convinces you?

I know Bonaccini well, he thinks exactly that thing there. I’m not worried. The ambiguity to be resolved if the Democratic Party is the equilibrium point of the system. Not for me, it never was, the equilibrium point is the alternation. The service to be done to the country is to build an alternative camp and if someone in the camp thinks they are dancing alone they will end up in the disgust of half of the Italian electorate.

Calenda and Renzi?

I have it in for anyone who thinks they are fighting for supremacy, while there is a right—right. Later he will be the most generous in building the alternative that our people are asking of us, not those who dance alone, whether they are called Schlein, Conte, Calenda or Renzi.

Was the shipwreck of Cutro a state massacre?

I stop on the judgement. The thing so big that I want to wait for the judiciary. To underline the total inadequacy of the government, the statements of a minister are enough who, officially, explains to mothers desperate for their children what they must do.

Piantedosi must leave?

For much less, a minister in a Western country would have gone home.

The ministries involved are Viminale, Transport and Finance. Whose fault?
Waiting to see where the ball lands. This stuff is too delicate, before pulling tails on someone you need to be sure of what you’re saying.

How do you judge Meloni’s line on migrants?

We have to be honest, nobody has the recipe. But Meloni cannot believe that he has won because the EU allows countries to put up a wall. He will go home a winner when there are humanitarian channels and a European rescue mission with the help of NGOs. Do we want to give ourselves a priority? Lives are saved, without ifs and buts. But I suspect that there isn’t this intention, otherwise they wouldn’t send NGOs to Ravenna or Livorno, wasting days with people in the middle of the sea.

On Ukraine, will Schlein move away from the Atlanticist position of Draghi and Letta?
I see speculation, because on weapons there are no decisions to be made now. The problem, if anything, is that politicians say “win, win, win” when the military itself says there is no military solution. Words like ceasefire and negotiation are considered Putinism. So, are those 65% of Italians who are afraid of nuclear escalation pusillanimous or morons? To those who ridicule those asking for peace, I reply with Bennato, “those who have already given up and laugh at your back are perhaps even crazier than you”. Weapons to keep the independent Ukraine going yes, to keep the war going no.

With what spirit did you learn that Speranza is being investigated for a culpable epidemic?
Let it be clear, but I am absolutely certain about the courage and fairness of Conte, Speranza and the Cts.

Are you sorry that Enrico Letta is no longer secretary?
In any case, it will be said of him that he was the one who opened a path that allowed for a novelty.

And you, what will you do in the Democratic Party?

I do Bersani.