We publish an excerpt from Matteo Renzi’s new book, “Palla al centro. La politica al tempo delle influencer,” which is full of revelations about the first year of the Meloni government. In the book, the leader of Italia Viva recounts the past year of Italian politics from his point of view, highlighting the most relevant aspects and the most discussed decisions, and relaunches his battles and convictions in view of the European elections.
He mentions the name Rocco Casalino in incoming phone calls. I think I need to have the operation on my eyes to correct my vision because it’s clear that I can’t read as I would like to. But looking more closely, it really is Rocco Casalino.
I answer, surprised. I say to him, in a Florentine manner, “Hey, is that you?” And he, in a low voice, “Don’t look to your right.
Don’t turn around or else they’ll notice. I’m on the same beach as you. Let’s pretend we haven’t seen each other.
No one will know anything.” This communication from Mata Hari makes me die of laughter. I consider Casalino an incredible character, the true protagonist in building the figure of Giuseppe Conte.
And yet I recognize in him an extraordinary professional. I realized this during the years of the yellow-red government. Every initiative from Palazzo Chigi was tested in polls, verified in communication, and studied in detail.
I come from a different experience. When they proposed a selective rearrangement of the VAT and the lottery of receipts because they had polls showing strong appreciation, I got upset and tried to stop the operation. And I am against raising taxes regardless: let’s cut waste, not clip the wings of those who want to consume.
But Rocco was the irreplaceable pivot of all the plots, not just media-related, in the Five Star network. While many Italians still saw him as the young engineer from the first “Big Brother,” I understood that I had before me the most dangerous opponent of the Five Star team. I would be ready to debate his Giuseppe Conte in English, a language I speak and Conte does not.
And moreover, just to confront Conte, I would be ready to do it in Italian, giving him a two-subjunctive advantage. But if you ask the people of the network who speaks better English between Conte and myself, it will be a landslide for the Five Star lawyer. Because the campaigns orchestrated by the Five Star Movement have been very effective.
And anyone who doesn’t recognize this is being malicious. Let’s get back to the Greek beach. Casalino suggests to me to pretend not to notice anything and blend in with the anonymity of the vacation.
Evidently, he fears something. Obviously, for someone like me, it’s an invitation to the hare to run. I get up from the sun lounger and go to meet him all smiling.
“You didn’t want to see me? Here I am, good morning, how are you?” I only understand his concern afterwards.
“I’m not here, hey. I’m just passing through. If tomorrow I’m on Dagospia, I know whose fault it is, but I’m not in a luxury place.”
I smile. And I say to him, “Look, I’m not like you, Rocco. If someone is doing well, I’m happy for them.
Enjoy your vacation.” If someone pays for a vacation in a beautiful place and is doing well, why should they be attacked by gossip from below or by social envy, I tell myself. In reality, for the Five Star members, it’s a punishment.
Because precisely the communication of the Five Stars has turned this country into a place where those who are doing well must be envied, if not attacked. We say goodbye. A few hours later, I’m walking with my son, talking about university.
I see Casalino again, I make introductions, and he says to Emanuele, “If I worked with your dad, he would have at least 10%.” And I understand that for him, this job is a real vocation, waiting sooner or later to run for office himself, which of course will happen. Also, because he says, “Next time in the elections, Conte will exceed 20%, do you want to bet?”
But I smile, he won’t be able to ruin my vacation. However, it makes me think that in the Five Star household, they have already set their sights on 2027. Their goal is not to oppose Meloni today, but to build the electoral campaign for tomorrow.