Politics · Italy · 11 hrs ago
Marattin signals openness to joining Meloni-led coalition
Luigi Marattin has signalled that his party could join Giorgia Meloni’s centre-right coalition in Italy.
He said an alliance was possible if other parties supported proposals on schools, nuclear power and public spending cuts.
Marattin leads the Liberal Democrats and was previously part of Matteo Renzi’s Italia Viva.
He said those proposals do not fit with today’s centre-left, while the two main coalitions are close in opinion polls and are both looking to attract centrist voters.
Carlo Calenda criticised the idea, saying his Azione party would not join forces with Matteo Salvini and should put its principles first.
Marattin and Calenda now appear to have split over plans for a new centrist political group.
Marattin has expressed openness to an alliance, but no agreement has been announced.
Luigi Marattin has signalled he is open to an alliance with the coalition led by Giorgia Meloni.
In an interview with Il Foglio, he said, “If they are roses, they will bloom.”
Marattin said his group was willing to ally with anyone who backed its proposals on schools, nuclear energy and public-spending cuts.
Carlo Calenda criticised the prospect of an alliance with the right, while Marattin accused him of obstructing a liberal-democratic centre.
- Who
- Luigi Marattin and Carlo Calenda.
- What
- Marattin said he had not ruled out an alliance with Giorgia Meloni’s coalition. Calenda criticised the prospect.
- When
- The article was published on 18 October 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Marattin said his group was open to alliances with anyone who shared its four proposals; he said some of them did not fit with today’s centre-left.
Luigi Marattin
Carlo Calenda
Alliance with the right
Luigi Marattin
Marattin said he had not ruled out an alliance and was open to working with anyone who backed his group’s proposals.
Carlo Calenda
Calenda criticised the prospect of liberal democrats aligning with Matteo Salvini.
Political strategy
Luigi Marattin
Marattin accused Calenda of blocking the creation of a genuine liberal-democratic centre.
Carlo Calenda
Calenda said his party was not a vehicle for entering Parliament and stressed its idealism.
Marattin said he had not ruled out an alliance with Meloni’s coalition.
Calenda criticised the prospect of liberal democrats aligning with Salvini.
- Published
- 18 October 2026
- Marattin’s party
- Partito liberaldemocratico
- Coalition in question
- Coalition led by Giorgia Meloni
- Marattin’s proposals
- Schools, nuclear energy, public-spending cuts, and one other proposal not specified in the article
What people are saying
If they are roses, they will bloom
He is a little bush that thinks it is a forest
Those who want to go and be little bushes can go; we are not gardeners.