Schlein says Italy’s centre-left will be ready whenever elections are held; Renzi backs May vote

Elly Schlein stopped short of endorsing a May election at the Cernobbio forum, but said Italy’s Democratic Party would be ready whenever the vote takes place.

“Whenever elections are held, we will be ready,” Schlein said when asked about the possibility of voting in May. She described September as the point when the progressive alliance would move into the heart of building its alternative programme.

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Whenever elections are held, we will be ready.

Schlein said the opposition had already spent three and a half years working toward unity. She pointed to proposals on public healthcare, schools and research, industrial policy, dignified work, rights and democracy. The programme, she said, would be developed with allies and through meetings with businesses, trade unions, civil society groups, experts and scientists.

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September is the month when we get to the heart of building the alternative programme together with the entire progressive alliance.

“We are not starting from zero,” Schlein said, referring to joint proposals the opposition had already presented in parliament and across the country. She also argued that the discussion should not take place only behind party doors, but should involve people directly.

Matteo Renzi was more explicit in backing a May vote, calling the date logical. He said the centre-left should present not only three clear lines of direction, focused on wages, security and Europe, but also concrete proposals signed by all members of the coalition once the election date becomes clear.

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I think it would be logical to go to the polls on this date.