Italian Politician Carlo Calenda Predicts Defeat for Wide Field Alliance

Carlo Calenda, leader of the political party Azione, has sharply criticized the center-left 'Wide Field' alliance, predicting that the coalition is destined for a resounding electoral defeat. In a recent interview, Calenda argued that the political alliance lacks internal cohesion and described the current Italian political landscape as an immoral bipolarism.

According to Calenda, the political direction of the center-left coalition is entirely dictated by Giuseppe Conte and the Five Star Movement. He remarked that while Conte's platform includes policies he considers foolish, such as the reinstatement of a basic income and the cessation of support for Ukraine, the Democratic Party lacks any clear program of its own.

Calenda also questioned the involvement of Matteo Renzi within the progressive coalition, expressing bewilderment that the former prime minister tolerates what he views as humiliation. He pointed out that Renzi is excluded from key leadership summits and phone calls, despite discussions about expanding the alliance to include smaller centrist groups.

Addressing comparisons made by Renzi between the center-left alliance and the White Rose resistance movement, Calenda dismissed the remarks as a sign of contemporary megalomania. He emphasized that the current government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni represents a struggling administration rather than a dictatorial regime.

Looking ahead to future elections, Calenda confirmed that Azione will not align with either the center-right or the center-left coalitions. Instead, his party plans to build an independent centrist list representing good governance and pragmatic thinking, aiming to unite popular, Europeanist, and reformist liberal-democratic movements.

Calenda stated that a centrist platform could prove decisive in forming a new government if no political bloc achieves 42 percent of the vote, a scenario he believes is entirely possible with a four-pole electoral system.

In addition to domestic political strategies, Calenda expressed strong concerns regarding international policy, particularly concerning Ukraine. He urged the government to approve a comprehensive aid package for Kyiv within a month, warning that failure to do so would indicate that official commitments at the European Council do not reflect actual policy.