Politics · Italy · 15 hrs ago
Bersani urges Italian centre-left to hold primaries and build a shared platform
Pierluigi Bersani, a former leader of Italy’s Democratic Party, is urging the centre-left to hold primaries to choose its leader.
He says Elly Schlein and Giuseppe Conte should take part if they want to lead.
Bersani argues that the opposition needs more than a leader: it should agree on a platform to address major problems in Italy and across Europe.
He criticises the government’s proposed electoral law, saying its complexity could discourage people from voting.
He says Italy needs reforms to taxes, collective bargaining and the labour market, as well as a well-organised legal route for immigration.
He wants any gains from economic growth directed to health care, housing, schools and environmental and industrial change.
Bersani says opposing the government alone is not enough to unite the opposition.
He does not set out a timetable, but calls for the primaries to go ahead and for the coalition to begin building its programme.
Pierluigi Bersani urged Italy’s centre-left coalition to hold primaries to choose its leader.
He said the coalition should first build a shared platform addressing major global challenges.
Bersani said opposing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government was not enough to unite the centre-left.
He called for reforms in taxation, labour bargaining and the labour market, alongside a well-organised regular channel for immigration.
He said the proceeds of economic growth should fund health care, housing, schools and the environmental and industrial transition.
- Who
- Pierluigi Bersani, a former secretary of Italy’s Democratic Party, called on the centre-left coalition to act.
- What
- He urged the coalition to hold primaries and agree on a shared platform.
- When
- The interview was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- Bersani said the coalition needs to build an alternative to the right and address major challenges rather than unite only in opposition to Meloni.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
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- Interview published
- October 11, 2026
- Primaries
- Bersani said they should be held
- Shared platform
- Should address major global challenges
- Proposed reforms
- Taxation, labour bargaining and the labour market
- Growth proceeds
- Health care, housing, schools, environmental and industrial transition
Sources
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