Politics · Italy · 5 hrs ago
Italian centre-left groups test a wider coalition, but split over wealth tax
Leaders from Italy’s progressive and centrist parties met at a CGIL union event to discuss building a wider opposition coalition.
It brought together representatives of the Democratic Party, the Five Star Movement, the Greens and Left Alliance, Italia Viva and +Europa.
The talks focused on taxes and work, while foreign policy and arms for Ukraine remained in the background.
A tax on large fortunes was the main point of disagreement among the groups.
Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein backed discussing the tax, while Italia Viva and Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte opposed it; +Europa’s Riccardo Magi was open to talks.
Party representatives plan a program meeting by video on Saturday with other groups also invited.
The leaders said they want to avoid the divisions that contributed to their failure in 2022.
Italian centre-left leaders met at a CGIL assembly in Rome as parties explored a wider coalition that includes centrist groups.
They found common ground on issues including a minimum wage and changes to security laws, while disagreeing over a tax on large fortunes.
Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein backed discussing a tax on the super-rich at national level.
Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte and Italia Viva opposed the proposal, while the Greens and Left Alliance defended it.
The coalition’s programme talks were due to begin by video conference on Saturday, with a programme targeted for November and primaries by February.
- Who
- Leaders and representatives of the Democratic Party, Five Star Movement, Greens and Left Alliance, Italia Viva and +Europa met.
- What
- They discussed building a wider centre-left coalition and its programme, but disagreed over a tax on large fortunes.
- When
- 5 November 2026; programme talks were due to start on Saturday.
- Where
- At a CGIL assembly at the Brancaccio theatre in Rome.
- Why
- The parties are working to define a shared programme and lines of agreement for a political alternative.
Supporters of a tax on large fortunes
Opponents of a tax on large fortunes
Tax proposal
Supporters of a tax on large fortunes
The Greens and Left Alliance backed taxing the super-rich, and Schlein said the Democratic Party was open to discussing it nationally.
Opponents of a tax on large fortunes
Conte and Italia Viva opposed the proposal; Conte argued that similar taxes had not worked and raised concerns about valuing and tracking wealth.
Centre-left leaders and representatives of centrist parties met at a CGIL assembly in Rome.
The first programme meeting was scheduled to take place by video conference.
The parties aimed to complete their programme.
The parties aimed to hold primaries.
- Venue
- Brancaccio theatre, Rome
- Meeting host
- CGIL, led by Maurizio Landini
- Tax proposal
- Tax on the super-rich
- Scheduled programme meeting
- Saturday, by video conference
- Programme target
- November
- Primary target
- February
2 sources
What people are saying
Siamo favorevoli a una tassazione dei super ricchi, siamo aperti anche a discuterne a livello nazionale
Dove è stata fatta non ha funzionato
Non è vero che non funziona, non lo dico per una questione ideologica, ma sul merito.
Il centrosinistra deve dimostrare generosità, credibilità e senso di responsabilità