Onorato: 'Civic forces will be the real surprise; Italia Viva needs a new project'

Alessandro Onorato, a Rome city councilor and founder of Progetto civico Italia, is positioning his new civic movement as a potential "surprise" in the next elections. He argues that a new, concrete political force is needed, one that can reclaim issues like security and youth engagement from the right, which he contends has failed in government.

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The true surprise of the next elections will be us.

Onorato believes his movement is self-sufficient, boasting mayors and administrators in a thousand municipalities. He sees a significant portion of the electorate disillusioned with current center-left parties but still wishing to support a progressive bloc. He dismissed the idea of simply merging with existing centrist groups like Italia Viva, emphasizing the need for a fresh political narrative.

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What Italians expect is a project. Those who joined Progetto civico Italia, if they had wanted to, could have already chosen Italia Viva. Instead, administrators want to write a new political page that will lift the country and make the center-left win.

While open to alliances, Onorato insists they must be built on shared ideas, not just the logistical need to avoid signature collection for ballot access. He criticized Carlo Calenda's ambiguous stance, contrasting it with Matteo Renzi's perceived loyal opposition to the current government. Onorato also addressed potential concerns about aligning with Renzi, acknowledging past divisions but stressing the current priority is the future and expressing confidence that Giuseppe Conte can bridge divides.

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Alliances are made on ideas. Besides, having visibility does not mean gaining votes at the polls.

Regarding internal center-left dynamics, Onorato stated his movement is not taking sides between Giuseppe Conte and Elly Schlein for leadership. He indicated they would field their own candidate in primaries, which he believes should be organized quickly in November, and anticipates a surprising result for his movement.

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Calenda has it in for me because I made him lose the elections in Rome. Bettini is one of the most authoritative political exponents of the left, but no one directs us.