Chaos reigns supreme in the Democratic Party: Schlein dreams of a treble in the regional elections, while in Forza Italia, Marina Berlusconi makes Tajani tremble.

That nonexistent and shapeless, yet potentially decisive, political entity known as the "Center" lingers over the Italian political landscape like a kind of spectre that, for now, is merely comical but could become frightening. A panoramic view is eloquent in itself.

Regional elections in Tuscany

Renzi and Calenda are arguing, and what's new? But this time, a certain discontent is spreading even among the former prime minister's small ranks, as well as those of his former minister. The stumbling block is Tuscany. Renzi is determined to support the outgoing and re-emerging governor Giani, regardless of the political stake placed on the future administration by the Five Star Movement, led locally by the feared Paola Taverna. The leader of Azione isn't having it: " I can't stand Taverna." His supporters, who have already struck a lucrative pact with the governor-candidate in Tuscany, aren't listening at all. A local squabble, except that Renzi, struck by lightning on the Via del Nazareno, is using bipolarism and its ironclad rules as justification for his embrace with the Five Star Movement, while his former, contentious partner dreams of tearing up those rules, which in the grim reality are expressed as "bi-populism." This, however, is an argument that finds some traction among the remaining Renzians.

Puglia Regionals

In Puglia, the tug-of-war continues between former Bari mayor Decaro and the still-short-lived governor Emiliano. The former is ready to run, but only if the cumbersome Michele steps down and drops his place on the list. Emiliano, for now, isn't even considering it, and who knows if he'll accept the mediation proposal from the plenipotentiary sent to Bari by Elly : no candidacy, but a guaranteed councilorship and then, in the general election, a Senate seat. This too is a local squabble, except that according to those in the know, Decaro is so keen to govern Puglia without constraints because he aims to make a leap from there and run for the Democratic Party secretary, effectively winning the leadership of the minority, the centrists of the Democratic Party.

Campania Regional Elections

In Campania, Elly Schlein has discovered the wonders of realism in politics and, setting aside her crusade against the caciques, has reached an agreement with the cacique par excellence, Viceroy De Luca. The one, in other words, who brings the leading center-left party the gift of voters who, without him, would easily vote right. A centrist in effect. Elly's Neapolitan and Campanian team, however, rejects appeasement. The price of peace is expected to be the appointment of De Luca Jr. as regional secretary. Sandro Rutolo, once sent to Naples by Elly with the mandate to cleanse the city and region of the cacique, refuses to yield and is running against Piero De Luca.

Veneto Regional Elections

In Veneto, Zaia, the Doge, is unwavering and remains determined to present a list ennobled by his name and perhaps even by his candidacy. He would win votes, councilors, and money: his allies are becoming agitated. Amidst the chaos, the possibility of a split within the right emerges—although remote. What's more important, from the perspective of the possible emergence of a centrist political entity, is the fact that, despite being a League supporter to the core, Zaia is one of those leaders who send moderate voters into raptures: he is efficient, capable, and non-ideological. The region he leads is currently the most deeply rooted in the European fabric, and has little in common with the ideological furies of its leader, Salvini. Finally, there are rumors of a possible maneuver to overhaul Forza Italia's leadership, replacing the effete Tajani with the more combative Letizia Moratti, supported by the combative Debora Bergamini. The mastermind behind the operation is Marina Berlusconi, whose dissatisfaction with the Foreign Minister's results is well known. She believes that there is much more room in Italy for a moderate, rights-conscious party, even if positioned on the right, to even allow for the ambition of regaining control of the center-right. The space is indeed there. The possibility of challenging Giorgia Meloni for the sceptre is somewhat less so.

Taken together, these particular pictures reveal a general reality. Until now, those attempting the Center have been bands of mercenaries too closely aligned with the interests of various capos to be credible, and always anchored to one side or the other, the right or the left, with no ability to attract moderates on the other side. The possible emergence of a Center depends, instead, precisely on the ability to break free from the oath of eternal loyalty to one of the two camps and rely, rather than on the sergeants of fortune on duty, on the local leaders who have already managed to secure that cross-party consensus.

FROM

David Romoli