Politics · Italy · 8 hrs ago
Italian opposition figures disagree over how to choose a 2027 candidate
A Democratic Party faction has launched local committees to build support for an alternative to Italy’s governing side.
The effort comes as Elly Schlein and Giuseppe Conte remain divided over how to choose an opposition candidate for prime minister ahead of the 2027 election.
They agree that the coalition should settle its programme before holding primaries, but have not agreed on the rules or timing.
Dario Franceschini’s faction proposes agreement on about 10 policy points by November and primaries in early February.
Schlein says the Democratic Party leader should lead if the party wins the most votes, or the coalition should hold primaries; Conte wants an open contest for anyone who accepts the rules.
The disagreement matters because other opposition figures also want a say, and the choice of candidates could distract from building a shared platform.
The committees are intended to involve local groups and elected officials, while talks on the programme and the primary rules remain unresolved.
Italian opposition figures are divided over how to choose a candidate for the 2027 national election.
The Democratic Party’s Dario Franceschini is urging agreement on policy priorities by November and primary elections in early February.
Elly Schlein says the coalition should be led by the party that wins the most votes or choose its candidate through primaries with shared rules.
Giuseppe Conte opposes limiting the primary race in advance to the leaders of the two main parties and says it should be open to anyone who accepts the rules.
Civic politician Alessandro Onorato backs an open contest and says a two-person primary would not be acceptable.
- Who
- Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, former prime minister Giuseppe Conte and other Italian opposition figures.
- What
- They disagree over how to choose a candidate to lead the opposition in 2027.
- When
- The article was published on 23 October 2026. Franceschini proposed agreement on policy points by November and primaries in early February.
- Where
- The debate includes events in Montepulciano, Vibo Valentia and Rome.
- Why
- Opposition figures differ over who should be eligible for the primaries and how the candidate-selection process should work.
Schlein and Franceschini
Conte and Onorato
Primary format
Schlein and Franceschini
Schlein says the coalition should be led by the party with the most votes or choose its leader through primaries with shared rules; Franceschini proposes a Schlein-Conte contest.
Conte and Onorato
Conte says the contest should not be limited in advance to two leaders and should be open to anyone who accepts the rules; Onorato says primaries cannot be limited to two candidates.
Timing
Schlein and Franceschini
Franceschini proposes agreeing on about ten policy points by November and holding primaries in early February.
Conte and Onorato
Conte says the programme should come first and the vote should follow shortly after.
ANSA published its report on divisions over how to choose the opposition’s 2027 candidate.
Franceschini proposed reaching agreement on about ten policy points, including foreign policy.
Franceschini proposed holding primary elections.
- Election year
- 2027
- Policy agreement deadline
- By November
- Proposed primary timing
- Early February
- Policy points
- About ten, including foreign policy
- Civic initiative
- More than 400 proposals to be narrowed to ten priorities
2 sources
What people are saying
Who am I to say that only I or only Elly Schlein can run?
The party that gets one vote more leads. That is called democracy. Or primaries.
Primaries cannot be between two, because if they are between two it is clearly a contest between two leaders and that is not right.
within November