EU elections: Italian centre-left rallies behind ‘United States of Europe’ bid

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (Italia Viva) and the leader of +Europa party, Emma Bonino plan to run at the European election with a joint “United States of Europe” list.

The freshly formed united list, whose electoral programme is still not defined, brings together several parties of the Italian centre-left: Bonino’s +Europa, the Socialist Party, the Radicals, the Liberal Democrats (Libem), Volt and Renzi’s Italia Viva (Renew).

“We are working to bring to Brussels several MEPs who are not sovereignists or populists-people who believe in the United States of Europe. People who do politics”, said Renzi about his new project ahead of the EU elections in June.

However, the odds of reaching the declared objective to overcome the 4% threshold to obtain at least one seat in the European Parliament would be higher together with Carlo Calenda’s party Azione (Renew), who is hesitant to embark on a new political initiative with Renzi, after the recent flop of the ‘Third Pole’ with almost 8% in the 2022 general election.

“My orientation is negative, but I will evaluate what to do with my team, also according to the choice that the other party leaders will make”, said Calenda, who nevertheless inclines towards an agreement with Bonino’s party.

“We are building, in a positive climate, a purpose list for the United States of Europe: our proposal seems to me to have been enthusiastically received”, Bonino added.

The candidatures and the division of constituencies are set to be announced in the coming days. According to the polls, the joint list would exceed the 4% threshold, while Calenda’s fate would be uncertain if he chose to run alone.

According to Supermedia YouTrend/Agi, Italia Viva currently stands at around 3.2%, while +Europa and Azione, respectively, are at 2.8% and 3.9%.

(Federica Pascale | Euractiv.it)

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