«The return of Article 1 is good, but we must reconnect with the country, not with the political class»- Corriere.it

Pina Picierno, there are those who would like to change the name of the Democratic Party.

«I know that there are those who believe that this should have been the constituent assembly that made up for the mistakes of these 15 years, but it is a wrong thesis. The reasons that led to the birth of the Democratic Party are all valid. Therefore, it is not a question of founding another party and giving it a new name and least of all of re-founding an old one, but of finding a new connection with the country in a continuity of values ​​with the Lingotto and with the beautiful charter of values ​​that was written by giants of thought like Reichlin and Scoppola».

The constituent phase was reduced to the return of Article 1.

«As I said, we made this constituent to get back in touch with the country, not to reconnect with the political class. In recent weeks many and many have returned or approached the Democratic Party for the first time: associations, territorial groups and civic lists. With Article 1 a rift has healed and I am happy about this also because Speranza was an exceptional minister in a non-ordinary time. There is an inescapable fact: over the course of these 15 years the Democratic Party remains the only possible home to represent the needs and opportunities for change and reform that serve the country”.

Aren’t you afraid that the primaries are a flop?

“Absolutely not. We are the only political party in Italy that elects its leader in this way. This requires a great deal of courage, rather than fear. However I am convinced that as always many people will come. I am touring Italy in tandem with Bonaccini and I can tell you that there is an attendance at our meetings that goes beyond any wildest expectation, despite the mistakes and the depressing debate of recent months”.

What debate?

«The self-flagellation we inflicted on ourselves after September 25th. A paradoxical debate, because we are not the only ones to have lost, a blame that lost sight of the challenge that awaits us. It is wrong to withdraw into oneself: we need a party that forms an opposition that serves the country”.

Speaking of the government, the Democratic Party has raised the barricades on differentiated autonomy.

«The way it has been presented so far, that of Minister Calderoli is an inadmissible proposal. It is a not too veiled hypothesis of secession of the country. It is the idea of ​​an identity League that is once again engaging in a battle between the North and the South. If, on the other hand, they intend to present a serious proposal, the mayors and governors of the South are ready to think about differentiated autonomy».

Returning to the Democratic Party: insist on the replacement of the ruling class…

“A party is first and foremost a community. If we share this idea then we help out regardless of roles. It is a degeneration to think that one is part of the community only if one is personally involved in top roles».

You are also vice president of the European Parliament, how much does Qatargate weigh on the European socialists?

«I, who started playing politics as a girl in the anti-mafia committees, felt sick to my stomach for this affair. But corruption is not a left or right issue, unfortunately there are episodes of corruption on all sides. This is why I think that the moral question must once again be the beacon that leads institutions and politics to the port of credibility. And it is clear that when I put the spotlight on the moral issue, I demand greater attention in my political family and in my party. But I also want to underline that the European institutions have shown solidity because this attempt to interfere with Parliament’s action has failed. There were individuals involved, but Parliament did not allow itself to be corrupted by these ignoble attempts”.