Catholics, on 18 January in Milan the baptism of Comunità Democratica. It will be Ruffini's first time after bidding farewell to the Inland Revenue
Graziano Delrio launches the event calling together the noble fathers, from Prodi to Castagnetti, administrators and area intellectuals
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Key points
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In December, at the seminar of democratic Catholics promoted at the Lumsa University and dedicated to social commitment in the era of Pope Francis' radicalism, Ernesto Maria Ruffini was already almost a guest of honour. But on 18 January, at the new rally organised in Milan's Palazzo della Regione by the former Ppi, in the forefront Graziano Delrio, he will be even more so: it will be his 'first time' after his farewell as director of the Agenzia delle Entrate.
Delrio: 'We ask for space in the PD or outside'
.On the calendar there are speeches by some of the noble fathers of centre-left Catholics, such as Romano Prodi (remotely) and Pierluigi Castagnetti, as well as a wide audience of local administrators, professors and associations. The movement already has a name: Democratic Community. "We want to make it clear that the political culture of democratic Catholics can give a lot to the country, as in other historical turning points," Delrio explains. "We are asking for greater acceptance and space, within the PD or even outside the PD."
At the heart of the agenda is the demographic crisis
.In nuce there is already a draft manifesto. Just look at the priorities outlined by Delrio. At the top of the agenda the Catholic Democrats put the demographic crisis: "If it is not tackled immediately it will put the entire welfare system, from pensions to healthcare, into crisis". On Europeanism there is no discussion: 'We are relaunching a return to the courageous spirit of degasperism on Europe, with a cession of sovereignty; on the other hand we intend to re-propose Sturzo's autonomism, with a driven municipalism' as an alternative to the neo-centralism of the Regions. A big 'no' to the differentiated autonomy dreamed up by Calderoli. In the background, but not too much, are the ethical issues, around which Delrio promises: 'We are willing to make ourselves heard. And it is likely that on this ground, more than on others, the distance from Elly Schlein's PD will be measured.
The focus on territories
.The event will be opened by the former mayor of Brescia and Lombardy regional councillor Emilio Del Bono. This will be followed by his colleague Fabio Pizzul, who is also president of the Ambrosianeum Foundation in Milan, and representatives from other regions, such as the vice-president of the Council of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, former senator Francesco Russo, animator of a network of over 400 administrators.
The network of scholars and academics
.Like any self-respecting movement, the Democratic Community also has its referents in the world of culture and knowledge: a sort of think tank capable of elaborating concrete proposals on the various dossiers. The professors chosen for the panel are Leonardo Becchetti, economist and promoter of the Manifesto for a New Civil Economy, Elena Granata, professor of urban planning at the Milan Polytechnic and vice-president of the School of Civil Economy, and Mauro Magatti, professor of sociology at the Catholic University. Representatives of Catholic lay associations, from Sant'Egidio to Acli, will also be present. "The Catholic democratic culture," Delrio claims, "is a secular political culture, which has the tools to make strong and creative proposals to tackle the country's problems, at a historic turning point for Italy and Europe".
