What Enrico Letta said (and didn’t say)
Positions and ideas of Enrico Letta, new secretary of the Democratic Party, analyzed by Gianfranco Polillo
It took all the irony of Paolo Mieli to politely advance more than a doubt about the operation Enrico Letta, secretary of the Democratic Party. But was unanimity really needed ?, he asked himself during Fabio Fazio's broadcast on “Che tempo che fa”. They had been unanimous in chasing him away – he said – and now they are unanimous in acclaiming him as party secretary. Almost a disease – it could be added – of these uncertain times, paraphrasing much more famous sayings, which are written in the history of that political formation. Turning the question over to the person concerned, interviewed immediately afterwards, Enrico Letta limited himself to reiterating: I said what I thought and on my speech I asked for the vote of the Shareholders' Meeting. From now on, therefore, this will be the bible of the party.
And then we must carefully examine those words. In their most immediate meaning, but above all trying to shed light on the cultural background, even before the political one, from which they draw inspiration. Because a fact immediately catches the eye. It was a turning point. At the moment it is difficult to assess the extent of which, but it is a choice that cannot fail to have consequences on the future evolution of the party and, therefore, on the very fate of Italy. To understand it, you have to read the signs. Above all to contemplate the family album which Enrico Letta showed with ill-concealed pride. Starting with Pope Francis, mentioned several times in his speech. Then Jacques Delors, Romano Prodi, Don Mazzolari, Don Milani, Nino Andreatta.
The common denominator between these different characters is evident. They are all Catholic. Jacques Delors himself, although a socialist leader, had never made any secret of his faith since the time of Mitterrand, which, rightly from his point of view, he did not hesitate to show. It is therefore no coincidence that Letta himself, by renouncing all his numerous positions, wanted to maintain the presidency of the foundation which goes back to the name of this illustrious figure in European history. Having been one of the forerunners of the modern Union.
Of course: no problem. Democratic Catholicism was an important component of the history of Italy. And being Catholic did not prevent us from being, at the same time, a socialist or a communist. Characters who with their characteristics – from Gennaro Acquaviva to Franco Rodano – however different they have carried out their political action within secular formations, as were, in fact, both the PSI and the PCI. But they were, it must be immediately added, part. Their thought and their action, in other words, was grafted onto a broader horizon, which went beyond the limits of the Catholic party: represented, in effect, by the DC. With all its components: right, center and left.
With Enrico Letta, however, it is the entire line of the PD that changes. Not so much in its political presuppositions – of this we will see – but in the cultural ones. And this, as previously said, has already been seen. And then have we come to the end of that long historical cycle, which began in 1892, with the birth of the Socialist Party? What followed the trauma of 1921, which led to the split and the formation of the PCd'I? Question that remains in the background, but which, even less, justifies unanimism. No executive who has stood up to defend such an ancient tradition. That he expressed a doubt. Issued a warning. The demonstration that everything had already been consumed. And that only left-wing Catholicism remained alive, if not vital.
Nemesis of history. In the years that accompanied the fall of the Berlin Wall, generations of communist and post-communist leaders saw socialism as the enemy to beat. There was not only the crisis of real socialism: this is the justification. That disease extended to European social democracy: considered incapable of defending the dream of a real alternative. And here we turn our thoughts and hopes elsewhere. Kennedy's America, in the dreamlike transposition. You forget that in that presidency there was also the Bay of Pigs: the attempt to invade Cuba, to bring down Fidel and his revolution. Hence the choice of the name (PCI – PDS – DS – PD) in that almost obsessive presence of the word "democratic", precisely in order not to be forced to pronounce the term "socialist".
Nomina sunt consequentia rerum: the ancients said. It is positive, but also negative. One can, then, be surprised if, in the end, it will be the Catholics of the left who will entirely conquer that unguarded fort, with the few militants left in defense. Without their own identity. Ready to welcome a foreign pope, hoping for his saving action? No objection on our part. It was Palmiro Togliatti who repeated over and over: “whoever has the most thread will weave”. History, at least until today, tomorrow we will see, has given its response. It only remains to be seen whether all this will have an intimate coherence.
Enrico Letta, in drafting his program, has repeatedly insisted on the idea of a pro-European and global Italy. We will be one of the engines of Europe – he said emphatically – to transform its soul. But how will the party fit into the great European families? The representation of Catholics in Brussels and Strasbourg is in the People's Party. The PD is instead placed in the PSE: European Socialist Party. More than 30 political formations are part of it as members. Well: the name of the Democratic Party is used only for Italy. In all other cases the denomination is: socialist, social democratic or labor party. Simple nominalism? Or a new anomaly? Will it strengthen or weaken Italy's negotiating position, provided one has the courage to stand up for one's reasons, in terms of defending the national interest? These are questions that remain unanswered at the moment. Perhaps it would have been better to discuss it, with greater clarity, from the moment of the investiture.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/che-cosa-ha-detto-e-non-ha-detto-enrico-letta/ on Mon, 15 Mar 2021 08:35:48 +0000.