Primary Pd, war of numbers between Bonaccini and Schlein (from 6 to 14 points difference) – Corriere.it

After the first three days of voting in the primaries, Stefano Bonaccini leads the race for the secretariat of the Democratic Party. All the competitors say so, there is no doubt about this, but as regards the advantage over the main challenger, Elly Schlein, the numbers do not agree and show that the race could be more open than one might have imagined. For the committee of the president of Emilia-Romagna, the gap is almost 14 points (50.22 percent against 36.37). For that of the deputy, however, the distance is much smaller, six and a half points (47.3 percent compared to 40.8).

Different numbers that can be partially explained, beyond the propaganda effect that each tries to create, with the data relating to the total registered voters: over 15,500 according to the Bonaccini committee, about 14,000 for the Schlein committee. From the first also comes the approvals also won by the other two challengers: Gianni Cuperlo gets 8.63 percent while Paola De Micheli 4.17.

Pd members will vote in circles until 12 February (19 in Lombardy and Lazio), while on February 26 the gazebos will open for the choice between the two with the most votes. The weather is warming up. Between requests to cancel conferences (Salerno) and the war of numbers between one region and another, the challenge is focusing on the duel over the first two. The difference could be made by the turnout. We’ll make it enough for those who cut Bonaccini short.

The armies in the field do not skimp on statements, press releases, tweets and posts. The Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella stands with the president of Emilia-Romagna: Lots of participation in the circles of the @pdnetwork throughout Italy, with @sbonaccini in large advantage with more than 50% of the votes obtained in these first two days. A fine example of democratic participation. Go ahead!. Marco Furfato, spokesman for the Schlein committee replies to him: Others had polls, we have halls, theaters and squares that are packed every day. We knew that an incredible wave of enthusiasm and participation was building and that it reached the vote. We are at 40.8%, 6.5% from Bonaccini (47.3%) out of 14 thousand monitored votes. A wave also arrived among the members and the members. Perhaps someone thought they had already won, the data show that there is an unstoppable desire for change that fills us with joy.

On the territories the battle is on. In Sicily in the first congresses celebrated Bonaccini given clearly in the head. The Schlein committee replies: In Veneto the first two days of the congress with almost 1200 voters and over 60 clubs that have already gone to vote see Elly Schlein ahead with over 45% of Pd members. In between, the third wheel, Gianni Cuperlo, gains consensus, who receives a surprising endorsement, that of Bruno Tabacci: I read the interview in Corriere della Sera by Aldo Cazzullo with Gianni Cuperlo. I found her beautiful, passionate and persuasive. If I were a member of the Democratic Party I would definitely vote for him. I am watching the development of this very important congress with great attention, but with equal concern: I too am convinced that the Democratic Party must be reformed drawing inspiration from the experiences of the large popular parties which expressed leadership of the highest level because they are supported by a large participation of the people. Unfortunately the reality of this phase is very different.

Among the many curiosities that emerge from the polls, the result of the vote bounces back in circle of the Vie Nuove in Florence, Matteo Renzi’s historic stronghold. Here, where the current leader of Italia viva was a member of the Democratic Party and where in the past he had Bulgarian support (75% in the 2013 primaries, 89% in the 2017 primary) Schlein gets twice as many votes as Bonaccini (48 at 23). Even if, it must also be observed, yesterday in Tuscany the balance is still in favor of the Emilian governor (51.7% against 40.3%).