And in the end the Sardines entered the Pd – Politics

The Sardine they definitely throw themselves into politics. That their founder, Mattia Santori, was about to stand as a candidate in the municipal elections of Bologna (3-4 October) it had been clear for about twenty days. That then that list was that of the Democratic Party, has become even clearer in recent days, with the various certificates of esteem from local dem leaders. So there is officiality, the Sardines run with the Pd to enter the City Council at Palazzo d’Accursio, the choice will be made official next week during a dedicated press conference, where Santori will clear the name and slogans of his ride, as well as numerous events with some big names, even non-party ones.

The founder of the Sardines had taken a few days to reflect, squeezed between two fires. On the one hand, the possible candidacy in the Pd, a new and fascinating challenge for Santori, considering his desire to bring the demands of civil society into politics, to overturn their points of view. And the dem secretary of the province of Bologna, Luigi Tosiani, he courted him for a long time. On the other hand, the appreciation that Elly Schlein, vice president of the Emilia-Romagna Region, has never made a secret of nurturing Santori himself, after all the exchanges and comparisons between him and the leader of ‘Coraggiosa’ on the turning points of the ecological transition have been numerous.

But in the end the sardine, after careful consideration, opted for the Democratic Party. With Santori the secretary Tosiani and his team score a hit. Mediatically, a a name that will surely have resonance even beyond Bologna. Mattia Santori has long had a very close relationship with Matteo Lepore, candidate for mayor of the center-left (PD councilor for ten years) that he defeated Isabella Conti (independent, but burdened by the Renziano launch, still enrolled in Italia Viva) in the primaries. A relationship that has also led to some controversy, Santori’s association, La Ricotta, has received funds from the Municipality for some projects. All regular, but opposition has arisen. In any case, the partnership goes on, and there are already those who bet on his presence in the council.

The “fish” movement was born under the Two Towers on the evening of November 14, 2019. There is the election campaign for the regional elections of Emilia-Romagna, at the PalaDozza (temple of Bolognese basketball), in the center, Matteo Salvini launches the candidate Lucia Borgonzoni, on which later the whole center-right will converge. Mattia Santori and three other guys launch the meeting on social networks: let’s fill Piazza Maggiore as if we were many sardines. Six thousand sardines, the chosen battle cry, because six thousand people were expected for Salvini. Result: in Piazza Maggiore the final estimates speak of almost 12 thousand people, the event obscures the descent of the leader of the League.

The elections Stefano Bonaccini will win with the center-left, and many political commentators will give part of the about the Sardines, who have been able to awaken the dormant consciences of the progressive electorate. The Sardines then become a national phenomenon, sections are born all over Italy, the proselytes multiply. Their candidacy, after a period of partial media ‘down’ due to the virus, stands as the ideal completion of a path. The civic soul that wants to overturn politics from within. We leave Bologna, where it all began.