Nicola Irto, the Democratic Party has only recorded defeats in this electoral round. What the party of which you are secretary Calabria is experiencing appears to be an endless winter.
«The administrative offices cannot be reduced to a hasty representation of Calabrian realities. Each territory has its own history, its own balances and specific dynamics. Therefore we have decided to open an in-depth reflection in the territorial assemblies and regional bodies of the party. We do not shy away from discussion, which we believe is necessary. The party must question itself on the results, understand the reasons and prepare the work for the future. However, it would be a mistake to transform very different experiences into an overall and indistinct judgement.”
Will the disappointing results cause backlash within the party? In Cosenza the secretary Matteo Lettieri resigned: here the provincial Federation continues to be a “powder keg”. What choices will be made?
«It is natural that an electoral result produces consequences on a political and organizational level. In some territories the repercussions will be evident, and I also believe they are right and necessary, because the discussion with the vote is the first step towards starting again. As far as Cosenza is concerned, the management group of the provincial federation is now called upon to fully assume the responsibility of changing pace, identifying a political direction and restarting the party with a strong rooting in the territory. This is the path I hope for. However, if the ability to build this path independently does not emerge, radical choices will be necessary.”
The center-left appears incapable of reacting to the setbacks it has suffered in succession in recent years. What is the progressive camp missing to become attractive in the eyes of voters?
«The first point is rooting. The Democratic Party was present with its own lists, its own candidates and with the commitment of its clubs. This alone is not enough, however. If we want to build an effective alternative to the right, we need a stronger, more rooted and more present center-left with respect to the needs and requests of local communities. Alliances cannot arise only during the electoral campaign but must arise from constant work in the area, from listening to citizens and from a broad, credible and recognizable political proposal, with shared values and objectives”.
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