Matteo Renzi endorses Silvia Salis for center-left primaries

Matteo Renzi, leader of Italia Viva, has proposed Silvia Salis, the current mayor of Genoa, as a strong candidate to lead the center-left coalition in upcoming primaries. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Renzi argued that while the current 'Campo Largo' alliance of the Democratic Party (PD), Five Star Movement (M5S), and Avs reaches 38% of the vote, it is insufficient for victory without the inclusion of reformist forces like Italia Viva.

Renzi characterized the ongoing tension between Elly Schlein and Giuseppe Conte as a mere 'war of position.' He suggested that Conte must remain in the coalition to prevent a split within the Five Star Movement that could jeopardize regional presidencies in Sardinia and Campania.

Regarding foreign policy, Renzi maintained a consistent stance on Ukraine, advocating for continued logistical support for Kyiv and proposing that Europe appoint a special envoy for diplomacy. He also emphasized the need for European defense spending to focus on research and technological innovation rather than purely military expenditures.