The Democratic Party (PD) has been
hit by a row after Emilia Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini,
the frontrunner to be the centre-left group's next leader,
expressed a not-entirely-negative assessment of Premier Giorgia
Meloni's performance since taking over the helm of government in
October.
Bonaccini said in an interview that Meloni, the leader of the
right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, was "certainly
capable" and called on people to be measured in their criticism,
while at the same time picking fault with her on several issues.
His comments were similar to those given by outgoing PD leader
and ex-premier Enrico Letta, who in a letter to the New York
Times welcomed Meloni's handling so far of budget policy and
relations with the EU, while criticising everything else.
In the campaign for last September's general election, Letta had
suggested a victory for the right would pose a threat to
democracy in Europe.
Former justice minister and PD bigwig Andrea Orlando was not
impressed by these assessments.
"Something is not right," he said.
"How can you say that they are capable (of what?) or that they
are better than we expected?".
Deputy PD Secretary Giuseppe Provenzano did not agree either,
saying the current executive was the "worst government ever".
Elly Schlein, Bonaccini's rival in the PD leadership primaries
and his former deputy in the Emilia Romagna regional executive,
had no praise for Meloni either.
"I think Giorgia Meloni hasn't yet found her feet in the new
role," she said.
"She seemed like the leader of the opposition in the first
speech she gave in the House.
"I don't think the right has increased its support levels, but
it has been capable of maintaining them.
"It won't be long until there are disappointments though, as too
many promises that they are not capable of keeping have been
made".
Bonaccini played down the row on Thursday, saying his aim was to
get the PD to win at the ballot box, while others wanted to win
on talk shows and in interviews.
The PD is electing a new leader as it seeks to rebuild itself
after Letta announced he would step down following the party's
poor showing in the general election.
The centre right ran away with regional elections in Lazio and
Lombardy, Italy's two richest and most populous regions, last
weekend, confirming a continued honeymoon for Meloni after
passing the 100-day mark in government.
The centre left again failed to team up and thus sealed its doom
as it had in the September 25 general election, although this
time it would not have one even if all the leftwing and centrist
forces had united.
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