Italian coalition leaders Conte and Schlein clash over Ukraine policy in primary talks

Within Italy's centre‑left coalition, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein are at odds over whether foreign‑policy issues, especially military support for Ukraine, can be decided in the upcoming primary election. Schlein argues that primaries should not be used to settle foreign‑policy positions, while Conte has urged “let the Italians decide” and pressed for a clear stance on re‑armament and aid to Kyiv.

The dispute has drawn in other coalition partners, including the Five Star Movement and the Greens‑Left Alliance, which share the M5S’s opposition to re‑armament. Despite a recent lunch between Conte and Schlein, tensions remain, raising concerns about the unity of the broad‑based coalition ahead of the primaries.