Schlein takes the Pd secretariat to Riano, between Matteotti and the dance halls

Elly Schlein brings together the first secretariat of the Democratic Party in Riano, a town of 10 thousand inhabitants which is part of the metropolitan belt of Rome. The dem secretary chose Riano because it is the place where the body of Giacomo Matteotti was found, murdered by the fascist gangs in 1924. And in fact, the day of the new Pd leader opened with the placing of a wreath on the memorial of the socialist deputy. “It is the first time that a national leader has come here,” said the mayor of Riano Luca Abruzzese welcoming Schlein. He is from Abruzzo from the Democratic Party, but has a local exponent of the Brothers of Italy as councilor for culture, “even if he celebrates it on April 25”, he wanted to assure.

Then all the members of the secretariat moved to the Riano recreational club, a sort of shed usually also used as a dance hall. They are all there: from Peppe Provenzano to Sandro Ruotolo. The secretary of the Young Dems Catherine Cerroni she showed up for the appointment with a sweatshirt from Mediterranea, one of the most active NGOs in rescuing migrants. “It’s a beautiful thing. It’s the first time a secretary has come, they should always come”, some militants confess. To which the mayor of Riano is forced to reply: “Now let’s not exaggerate”.

It is not the very first time that a secretary of the Democratic Party has left the Nazarene to convene a secretariat. It had also happened with Maurizio Martina in July 2018: in that case the meeting of the party leaders was organized in Tor Bella Monacapopular district of the capital. With executives who moved bewildered in a context unknown to them. A bit of what’s happening today.