Senator Luigi Zanda, according to Mariastella Gelmini, Silvio Berlusconi’s ascent to the Quirinale would pacify the country. What do you think?
«Today both Forza Italia and the Democratic Party support the Draghi government and this political circumstance must be respected. But if we really want to pacify Italy we should avoid putting forward candidates that divide not only politics but public opinion. Objectively, that of Berlusconi divides, given that both Enrico Letta for the Democratic Party and Giuseppe Conte for the 5 stars explained that their parties could not vote for him ».
Would a renunciation of it be needed for pacification?
“The unity of the country is built around candidacies that do not divide”.
At the press conference at the end of the year Mario Draghi made an optimistic picture of the situation in the country, making it clear that his ascent to the Col would not endanger it. The parties do not seem convinced.
«The choice of the twelve presidents of the Italian Republic has almost always been made in the last two weeks. I think that’s what will happen for the next one as well. In addition, many, including myself, have long thought that the best president for the next seven years would still be Sergio Mattarella ».
Is this a scenario that now excludes you too?
«I understood that the reasons of constitutional expediency that oppose this hypothesis are very serious and must be considered as such. At this point there are many men and women who could exercise the functions of president well, but I exclude that the choice could take place before the very last phase ».
And do you also exclude that the next head of state could be elected by a smaller majority than the one that supports the government?
“It doesn’t have to be the same majority, but the political consequences are clear if this doesn’t happen. The government would fall immediately. ”
After the premier’s words, which show his availability, should the Democratic Party work on Draghi’s candidacy?
“I did not see any self-candidacy in his words. He simply said that it is Parliament that chooses both the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic ”.
But would that be good?
“On the institutional level, the President of the Republic finds his legitimacy in a parliamentary majority that everyone hopes for the largest. It can be said that it is okay if he has the consent to be elected. On a more personal level, I believe that Italy should be very grateful to Draghi. He agreed to be premier when parties failed to build a majority and the only alternative was early elections. I believe that both in the fight against the pandemic and in economic policy and relations with Europe, he is doing the maximum possible in the given political conditions, with a majority of opposites ».
A majority of opposites hold up until 2023, perhaps without Dragons?
“The heart of the question is whether the parties bow to their interests or whether they take into account the general interest of the country.”
Mattarella spoke of the “time of duties”.
“From the point of view of attention to the general interest Mattarella is an example, not only for the Italians, but also for the next president”.
The Pd recovered from Renzian disease, as D’Alema says?
“I think that the term illness has escaped D’Alema because it is more suited to regimes than to democracies. And in a democracy like the Italian one in the parties, when you go in the minority, there is internal opposition, there are no splits. I think that history is proving right to those who remained in the Democratic Party and did politics within the party compared to those who slammed the door and left ».
But do you agree that people like Roberto Speranza come back?
“I have great esteem for him and if he came back I would be happy, but just as I don’t like splits, I’m cold about re-connections.”
Renzi and his friends seem to be looking to the right.
“Yes, but a senator from Italia Viva named Comincini asked to rejoin the Democratic Party and now he has a good relationship with all his colleagues”.
You who always keep an eye on the numbers, with a mixed group of 113 people between the House and the Senate and 270 changes of shirt in one legislature, is there a risk that the Colle game will get out of hand?
‘Are you asking me if there is a risk of chaos? Without a strong political direction and with clear ideas and without an authoritative name, there is a risk ».
Who should do it, directing?
“When there were large mass parties, directors were their leaders. With a parliament as fragmented as the present one, the direction must be collective ».