Giuseppe Conte and Elly Schlein’s political relationship seems to have reached a breaking point as the European elections approach. After the rift in Bari, where Conte pulled out of the primaries with the Democratic Party due to a new vote-buying scandal, the M5S has decided to run independently in Piedmont, leaving the chosen Democratic candidate, Gianna Pentenero, to fend for herself. This division within the left may end up benefiting the center-right, according to some observers.
Elly Schlein, the secretary of the Democratic Party, had harshly criticized Giuseppe Conte at a rally for candidate Vito Leccese, suggesting that Conte’s actions may unintentionally help the right-wing parties win. Some Democrats believe that Conte’s decision may be a double standard, as he justified the rift in Bari by emphasizing the importance of legality, yet remained silent on the case of Marcello De Vito, a M5S member who was sentenced to 8 years and 8 months for corruption.
In response to the criticism, Giuseppe Conte defended his actions on a television show, stating that he would have been willing to collaborate with Schlein if she had stayed true to her commitment to fight corruption within the Democratic Party. Conte also expressed his support for Michele Laforgia and questioned why the PD did not endorse him as a candidate in Bari. He emphasized that legality is a core principle for the M5S and accused the government of politicizing the situation in Bari, stating that scandals in politics, rather than his party’s actions, benefit the right-wing parties.
The tension between the M5S and the Democratic Party continues to escalate, with both sides failing to find a compromise to the situation in Bari. Despite attempts by leaders from other left-wing parties to propose a third solution to resolve the deadlock, candidate Michele Laforgia rejected the idea, stating that he does not believe a third option exists. While he expressed a commitment to working towards the unity of the center-left coalition, he criticized the behavior and attitudes displayed by the other side as divisive.
The Democratic candidate Vito Leccese expressed concerns that the political situation in Bari was being exploited for electoral gain by someone. The political feud between Conte and Schlein, as well as the inability of the left-wing parties to find a common ground, have created an uncertain and potentially damaging environment for their respective electoral campaigns as they prepare to face the center-right candidate in Piedmont. It remains to be seen how this rift will impact the outcome of the elections and the future of the left-wing coalition in Italy.
