The group photo is there (almost), the group isn't yet.
With an event in Rome "For the United States of Europe", Emma Bonino and her Più Europa brought together several centre-left leaders to get the answer to a simple question: are you making a list of objectives for the European ones?
Then the question was essentially addressed to the only two interlocutors who could fit in, but who don't get along with each other: Matteo Renzi and Carlo Calenda.
The first answered yes, the second remained vague.
The conclusions were drawn by the secretary of Più Europa Riccardo Magi who, not being able to do one plus one immediately, took his time: "Let's stop the clocks, let's take some extra time, very short, a few days, to understand how this proposal can concretely take shape ".
In the meantime, however, thanks to a ploy by the event moderator, Alessandro Cecchi Paone, there is already a group photo.
In the front row, one next to the other, sat: the PD secretary Elly Schlein, Renzi, Magi, Benedetto della Vedova, Bonino and, virtually, the leader of Action Carlo Calenda, connected by video from Kiev.
Shall we add it to the photo?
Cecchi Paone asked him.
And he: "It will be an honor."
For now, however, there is only one image of unity.
And some suggestions on the possible faces on the list for the European elections, in case it arises: Cecchi Paone and Carlo Cottarelli, who intervened, and Emma Bonino, who did the honours, even if she is still in a wheelchair, after the fall and femur surgery.
"We are here - said Renzi - We are available to take the necessary steps back and to lend a hand. But if you decide to make agreements with others we will respect you, even if you decide to stay with Action, in the event that Action puts a veto on IV".
And here's the crux.
Calenda did not dissolve him, even though she has been repeating "never with Renzi" for some time.
"The United States of Europe is a future objective - said Calenda - the defense of Ukraine is today. We will be there".
So much so that Della Vedova addressed him directly: "We have a common purpose, that of building an electoral list around the project of the United States of Europe. I want to say one thing to Calenda: your right place, politically speaking, is here with us."
M5s and Verdi-Sinistra were missing from the centre-left, who have relations to be ironed out with the former third party.
While Schlein arrived above all to test the waters of an even broader alliance, but for the next policies.
Meanwhile, "let's fight together for equal marriage and for the legalization of cannabis", said the Pd secretary, who closed by reading the lyrics of a song: "United Europe, the voice of brotherhood that will break down all borders. We are Europe we millions of people."
A song by Cristina d'Avena.
"It was 1991, I was six years old - commented Schlein - we didn't abandon the dream".
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