Italian politics: Meloni and the weakness of the opposition – News

In Italy, all the spotlights are on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – the opposition barely makes an appearance. Also because the parties are far apart in terms of content and personnel.

“Campo largo” – wide field. This is what the united, gathered opposition calls itself in Italy. But usually this field is rather manageable or even narrow, because one or even several people usually jump off and go on a solo tour. The two largest opposition parties are the social democratic Partito Democratico and the left-wing populist movement Cinque Stelle.

A supposed triviality

There is agreement on many things. Both want a higher minimum wage, hate tax amnesties or want more environmental protection. But there are also differences. The Cinque Stelle, for example, are strictly against waste incineration plants because, according to the obsession, they pollute the environment. But the Social Democrats see it exactly the opposite.

What sounds like a trivial matter has already prevented or even broken up many left-wing alliances at regional or local level. And even if Social Democrats and Cinque Stelle were to band together everywhere, that wouldn’t be enough to beat the right at the moment. What is really needed is a “campo largo”, a broad field that the parties of the center left would also have to join.

The split fungus is rampant

But this is where things definitely get complicated. Because then you would also have to get former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on board or the former Economics Minister Carlo Calenda. But both centrists are die-hard soloists and are known for changing their opinions frequently and spontaneously. In other words: the fungus of division is growing to the left of the Italian center.

Legend:

Appearances are deceiving: Matteo Renzi (left) and Carlo Calendo (right) are better known for their political solo appearances.

Getty Images/Antonio Masiello

In contrast, Italy’s right-wing masterfully knows how to sweep all differences under a big carpet, under a “tappeto largo”, at the right moment shortly before the election. In addition, the right-wing camp has a talented presenter, Giorgia Meloni, who knows how to appeal to people’s heads and guts.

Not so the left. A lot of hopes rested on the young Elly Schlein when she was appointed head of the Partito Democratico almost a year ago. But Schlein often seems aloof. She is already struggling to keep the various wings of her own party together. At present, these are poor conditions for uniting the motley opposition – and leading it to success.