More defections from Azione: Gelmini, Carfagna and Versace leave Calenda's party
Carlo Calenda's party suffers a series of weighty defections with the resignations of Gelmini, Carfagna and Versace, due to the approach of the broad camp
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After the farewell of Enrico Costa, Mariastella Gelmini, Mara Carfagna and Giusy Versace also leave the party of Carlo Calenda . Four weighty goodbyes in 48 hours: a heavy blow for Azione. The cause of the divorce? The party's rapprochement to the wide camp, with the alliances made on the occasion of the upcoming regional elections in Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria
Gelmini's farewell to Calenda, for now at Misto: rumours of switch to Noi Moderati
The rumour of a possible farewell to Azione had been going around for a while. Today the confirmation has arrived: Mariastella Gelmini is leaving Carlo Calenda's party and she herself has made the 'departure' official in a note, just a few days after another important 'defection', that of Enrico Costa (who has joined Forza Italia). "My path in Azione ends today," announced the former minister, who explained: "I had a serene and loyal confrontation with Calenda and, as far as I am concerned, my esteem and gratitude towards him remain unchanged," but "the political choices of the movement that I joined with enthusiasm two years ago (in July 2022) go in a direction that I cannot share because it is significantly different from the original one.
The former minister did not like the choice of an alliance of Azione with M5S and Avs in view of the next regional elections, the so-called wide field. Hence the decision to leave: for now the senator will join the Mixed party in Palazzo Madama, then we will see, but the increasingly insistent rumours ensure that by now the former spokesperson of Azione will join 'Noi Moderati', the centre-right political formation that supports the Meloni government and is led by Maurizio Lupi. Having joined Azione two years ago after leaving Forza Italia, in dissent with the choice of the Azzurri senators not to take part in the vote of confidence in the Draghi government, Gelmini began to express her impatience with Calenda's line under the assumption of an organic alliance with the centre-left.
Mara Carfagna also leaves Action
In the evening came the news that Mara Carfagna is also leaving Action. This was reported in a party note: 'We note with regret the decision of Mariastella Gelmini , Giusy Versace and Mara Carfagna to leave a party that welcomed and valued them at a particularly critical moment in their political journey'. Carfagna, too, has a long militancy in Forza Italia behind her before switching to Action in 2022.
Giusy Versace: no to the wide field
Shortly before, another ex-Forzista, Senator Giusy Versace (video) had announced her farewell. She is also against the prospect of the wide field. "Before the summer I had already expressed my discomfort and disappointment to Carlo Calenda regarding the hypothesis of joining a broad camp in Liguria too. In the meeting I had with him today in Rome I went into all these reasons, confirming the esteem and affection I have for him and my gratitude for the trust he has placed in me. At the same time, however, I have to take note that the political choices, although legitimate, are taking the party in a direction that is not the one I hoped for,' he said.
