Meloni: 'Ready for a confrontation with Schlein, but Conte must also be there'. No from the Pd secretary

Giorgia Meloni's go-ahead for the debate requested by Dem secretary Elly Schlein at Atreju (the Fratelli d'Italia party scheduled in Rome from 6 to 14 December). But on condition that Giuseppe Conte also participates. 'I read that Elly Schlein would finally accept Fratelli d'Italia's invitation to participate in Atreju, but only in the event of a direct confrontation with me. Atreju has always been an open house for dialogue, even with those who think differently. I am therefore ready to confront the opposition. But I believe that Giuseppe Conte should also take part in the confrontation'. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated this on social media, citing 'two reasons'. 'The first is that Giuseppe Conte, unlike Elly Schlein, has come to Atreju in past years without imposing any constraints,' Meloni explained. 'He did it even as Prime Minister. The second is that it is not up to me to establish who should be the leader of the opposition, when the opposing camp has not yet chosen one. For my part, therefore, I am available for a one-off confrontation with both'.

In the last few hours, the former premier had hinted that she did not want to leave the spotlight to the Pd secretary: 'I had sounded out the possibility of a confrontation with Meloni at Atreju in previous editions too and was told no. Now I read that the premier agrees to a confrontation as long as both Schlein and I are on stage. For me it's always good to confront each other and tell it like it is. Even in 'away', in front of an audience that I respected even when I was Prime Minister and Fratelli d'Italia was not a majority force. I am certainly not shirking today. I'm there!' said M5s leader Giuseppe Conte.

But the endthree-way confrontation will not happen. Because Schlein rejects the proposal of Meloni to the sender. "I am sorry that Giorgia Meloni refused to make confrontation with me" "maybe I am more scary today after the regionals?". "She wants to do the coalition confrontation? Bring Matteo Salvini too. And if he also wants to bring Tajani we also bring Fratoianni and Bonelli. It's ridiculous." Thus the Pd leader on Piazza Pulita. 'The reality is that she has still run away from confrontation,' she added.

In the evening comes the note Giovanni Donzelli, Fdi's organisation manager, chem after Schlein's decline, also closes to the hypothesis of a mere Meloni-Conte confrontation. 'It is a pity that Elly Schlein has also this year finally declined the invitation to Atreju. Giorgia Meloni had also willingly agreed to change the historical layout of the festival to have a confrontation with Schlein and Conte, given the willingness both had shown. If this is not possible we will go ahead with the guests who will participate without conditions and whom we thank for this. When the opposition will have a single leader recognised by all we will be happy to welcome a direct confrontation between Giorgia Meloni and the identified leader at Atreju'.

FdI's invitations meanwhile have divided Avs. Angelo Bonelli will be at Atreju for a debate with Minister Adolfo Urso, while Nicola Fratoianni declined thanking him 'courteously': 'With the right the confrontation is in Parliament. I'm leaving the place to a journalist because if every now and then the premier offered herself to questions it would be a good thing'. "Fratoianni, Atreju does not bite: no need to run away. There is room for everyone", the response on social media from the FdI kermesse, which is still defining its programme, in which for now it is known that Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti will speak on 12 December via video link-up and that Meloni will give the traditional closing speech.