Schlein to Conte: 'Program First, Then Primaries'

Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein has responded to Five Star Movement (M5S) leader Giuseppe Conte's proposal for primaries, asserting that a unified program must precede any leadership contest within a potential coalition. Schlein clarified the process, stating, "First the program shared by the entire alliance, and then the primaries, because whoever wins them must lead the entire coalition, not just their own party."

Schlein's remarks address recent tensions within the broader progressive coalition, often referred to as the 'Campo Largo'. Conte had previously suggested that his party would cease voting for military aid to Ukraine and that the coalition's leader should be chosen through primaries. This stance had created friction within the alliance.

The PD secretary urged her potential allies to shift their focus away from internal disputes. "But now let's not get lost in discussions among ourselves," she advised, "let's concentrate on the failures of this government and on our concrete proposals."

As an example of such concrete proposals, Schlein highlighted the PD's initiative for equal parental leave, which would provide five months of 100% paid leave for both parents. This focus on policy and tangible support for families contrasts with the procedural debates about leadership selection, signaling Schlein's priority for substantive political action.