In the chess match on the Democratic Party team, Elly Schlein and Stefano Bonaccini are the challengers preparing the moves.
And also the countermoves.
The first belongs to the president: today he brings together the parliamentarians who supported him in the congress in streaming.
The main problem to solve is that of the group leaders.
Bonaccini and his men do not digest the secretary's strategy: "It is unacceptable - they say - that she wants both of them and, moreover, presents herself with two dry names", Francesco Boccia in the Senate and Chiara Braga in the Chamber, "without negotiation: take it or leave it" .
If this is the attitude, Bonaccini will say, there cannot be unitary management: therefore, on Tuesday, when senators and deputies have to elect the group leaders, the count will go.
And in that case, the governor's supporters recall, Schlein will have to deal with the fact that the majority of parliamentarians stood with Bonaccini in the congress.
The breakup would also have consequences for the secretariat, with the choice of the Bonaccini area not to join Schlein's team.
If, on the other hand, the confrontation were opened, the range of possible outcomes is wide: but the starting point remains the governor's request for a group leader from his team.
During the day, in the Transatlantic there were also those who raised the possibility of leaving the group leaders in Schlein, but with a negotiation on the names.
A mini opening that has lost consistency over the hours.
The meeting will also serve to put on the table - and to try to soothe - the stomach aches that have been appearing in the
Bonaccini area.
Some of his supporters have raised criticisms not only of the way Schlein is proceeding with the group leaders, but also of the attitude - judged not to be decisive enough - with which Bonaccini himself has carried out the negotiations.
The secretary is back from the trip to Brussels, where she met the leaders of the European socialist parties: "There has been a gigantic opening of credit towards Elly Schlein and towards the Pd - acknowledged the vice president of the European Parliament Pina Picierno (Pd), who ran in tandem with Bonaccini at the congress - This is a non-trivial fact, which demonstrates how the Democratic Party is at the center of the European scenario".
On Monday, Schlein will bring together deputies and senators for the first discussion with them as secretary, on the eve of the vote on group leaders.
"Your attitude is inclusive - explained a member of parliament close to the secretary - of willingness to discuss everything. I imagine that the secretary will make your proposals and take into account a unified vision".
The impression, however, is that she does not intend to step back from the indication of Boccia and Braga as group leaders: the choice of two faithful would also be functional to reassure her of the maximum alignment between her action as secretary and that of the party with the acts in Parliament.
Among Schlein's supporters, there doesn't even seem to be too much concern about a possible count on group leaders on Tuesday: the numbers are evolving, the outcome of the congress - it is the reflection - always leads to a physiological rebalancing between winner and loser.
