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Simona Granati – Corbis via Getty Images
This time it’s not the Captain’s fault. Salvini would be willing to help out; if asked, there are many ways to help. It could be spent with Regions that for three-quarters lean to the right: putting certain governors in line would be a good contribution to unity of action. It could guarantee that in the midst of the Covid emergency, when decisions have to be made, the opposition does not lend itself to strange maneuvers: splits and reorganizations, blackmail and parliamentary ambushes, that is the worst that politics can produce.
Even if he kept quiet, simply avoiding fueling defeatism, abandoning the sport of “so much worse, better”, putting on the mask in front of the cameras and unloading the deniers he had sponsored, with minimal effort Matteo would make a valid contribution to national harmony, especially now that collective health is an aggregate of individual behaviors and even its example weighs heavily.
Apparently, finally, he would be willing; Melons idem; Tajani too. A phone call from the prime minister saying “come and have a coffee” would be enough, perhaps a few days in advance, enough to cancel the rallies; without making a fuss, the three showed up for the appointment. From what would perhaps emerge, new encounters, other virtuous attitudes would follow, Italy that lives in fear would feel stronger and more united. But that is not the case for now. The days go by and the call doesn’t come. Zero calls Salvini’s cell phone; no message on the answering machine; not even a WhatsApp with a laughing face from the head of government. What the hell is holding Conte back? Why isn’t it showing up yet?
The prime minister may reply that he has already tried. Four months ago he made the gesture of inviting the opposition to Villa Pamphili with so many people from around the world: industrialists and lobbyists, scientists and influencers, managers and monsignors, all there to kiss his shoe in the maximum moment of splendor. From the right they told him that the event was not appropriate, the location too little institutional, it would have been better to see yourself at Palazzo Chigi with all the trappings of good manners. On July 1, Conte tried again with an invitation to the right place; wrote a beautiful letter, gave it wide publicity. But he made the mistake (or he did it maliciously) of arranging a meeting with Meloni, all satisfied to have been consulted first. Salvini reacted as if he had been stung by a hornet. Result: even then there was no way to combine agendas. And Conte interrupted with mischief: “These from the center right remind me of Nanni Moretti in the movie Ecce Bombo, do you pay more attention to whether we are going or not?”
A hundred days have passed since then. We had the Regionals where the majority was held. In the League there has been a reflection on how to present themselves in Italy and in Europe. Conte often spoke to Meloni again: he talked about us, then made amends, and then got into a fight again in private and in Parliament, a bustle of phone calls. Instead, Salvini is still waiting and from time to time asks the secretary: “Did you call by chance?” No, the Prime Minister does not call and what they say does not even think about it, at the cost of going to the wrong side because this time it is he who shuns the confrontation that his former minister would accept and even urges Zingaretti, not to mention. Quirinal. There is a certain amount of calculation in this denial, a bit of arrogance. Of weakness mixed with arrogance. Conte is convinced that he can do it alone; you think you have enough problems with your coalition already; it keeps it carefully linked with the story of the big bad wolf, who would be Salvini; if Matteo denied the cliché by becoming meek, reasonable, cooperative, at that moment he would stop scaring and the glue that holds the majority together would disappear. Better to leave him in the forest with the witches and elves. Add the dislike for skin, the annoyance that Conte tries to find in front of a gentleman with whom he never got along, because he treated him like a figurehead. Let’s put ourselves in their shoes to experience shame.
But denying dialogue also carries a risk. Because it is not certain that the second wave will go like in March, when Italy sang from the balconies. Seven months later the government is asked for more, in the winter of the Republic patience quickly runs out, the blame for the delays is the sign of a changing wind. Involving the opposition would be an act of wisdom on Conte’s part. Plus: an insurance policy against the country’s mood swings. Because we know what happens to us saviors of the country: the more cowards we treat them as heroes, the sooner they end up on their heads.
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