AVS's ultimatum on the utility company with Schlein's support, Conte opens up to dialogue

As the programmatic roundtables draw to a close, the atmosphere in the broad camp is heating up, with allies determined to push forward—each of them—their own most identity-driven proposals. While the Five Star Movement already considers the inclusion of the citizenship income in the joint program a done deal (regardless of what it will be renamed), Angelo Bonelli and Nicola Fratoianni issue a sort of ultimatum on the wealth tax: "The tax on very large fortunes is a necessity" and "without Avs there is no alternative." Giuseppe Conte's response comes live, during the event marking the 40th anniversary of the Greens, which brings together the four leaders (including Elly Schlein). And it is an opening to dialogue: "When I say no to the wealth tax, I don't mean no to taxation or a levy on the super-rich. What I mean is, let's tax financial speculation, but we have two proposals, let's compare notes on yours as well." The PD secretary says she is in favor of a "tax on the super-rich" and takes a swipe at Giorgia Meloni: "We are talking about multimillionaires, we will not raise taxes on the middle class—that is what she did." On the wealth tax, in the morning, the first to bang his fist on the table is Bonelli, the host at the ecologists' 'birthday.' And he does so by linking the resources that could come from it precisely to the citizenship income, on which Avs "has no reservations." If we must "guarantee the income"—his reasoning goes—then we also need "to figure out where to find the resources. We insist on a solidarity contribution for assets above 5.4 million euros." A few hours later, Fratoianni, from the same stage, backs him up and turns the screw: "I say this especially to those among us who have some doubts, to my friend Giuseppe Conte. The tax on very large fortunes in the program is a necessity," "enough with putting our hands in the pockets of the Italian middle class." Iv's position remains the same: "Talking about raising taxes is masochistic. Doing so would be a gift to Meloni, who has actually raised taxes." Sure enough. In no time, the center-right goes on the attack, from FI to FdI. One among them all, the leader of Nm Maurizio Lupi: "A left short on ideas dusts off the wealth tax, a wrong and populist prescription." The sticking points of the Rdc and the wealth tax are the last and most difficult ones to untangle at the center-left table, along with the thorny Ukraine issue and a few points—not minor ones—on justice. But the leaders are determined to reach a synthesis, something that will begin as early as next week, with the aim of closing possibly by November 30. Then, the spotlight will be stolen by the leadership contest. According to Conte, a guest on "Italia del Domani," the primaries will serve "to choose who can beat Meloni." For Schlein, "the winner will not be the head of their own party but the head of an alliance bound by the program," we have "21 points of economic policy already shared." Also dividing the allies is the question of participation in Atreju, Fdi's historic event: Schlein, Fratoianni, and Bonelli will not be there; Renzi and Conte will. "I have gone in other years and I'm going this year too," explains the Five Star leader. "It's important to speak to an audience that is not favorable," especially to "explain the mistakes" that the Meloni government has made "in these four years," "I will go to remind them of those." "Everyone makes their own choices, I have never gone," Fratoianni replies. Meanwhile, the secretary of Più Europa, Riccardo Magi—still among the uninvited—is open to the possibility: "I haven't received the invitation; if and when it should arrive, I will evaluate it, also in light of the topic of any debate. Last year I took part in a debate on security at Atreju, and in September in one on cannabis legalization at the Gioventù Nazionale festival. I hope and believe I convinced more than one person of the madness of prohibitionism!" Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA