Third day, third vote, third black smoke. However, from the scrutiny that ended around 15.30 pm, some interesting indications are beginning to arrive that mix with the positions taken by the party leaders who continue to "negotiate" outside Montecitorio. The focus of attention is no longer alone the election of the President of the Republic, but also the stability of the Government, which could creak in the event that one of the majority parties decides to "snatch", trying to elect a candidate unwelcome to the others.
Quirinale: the third vote
At the end of the third ballot they are counted 412 blank ballots, 260 less than those recorded after the first vote. A sign that something is starting to move in view of the fourth vote, when a simple majority (505 votes instead of 673) will suffice to elect the next President of the Republic and things will start to get serious.
Today, two interesting indications emerged from the polls in the Chamber: the first is the 126 votes obtained by Sergio Mattarella. Although the outgoing President has reiterated for months and in many different fora his unavailability for a second term, even going so far as to show photos of his "move" giving an unequivocal message of his will, many representatives still do not seem to have the intention of resigning to the 'Goodbye. Among them, according to many political observers, there could be several representatives of the 5 Star Movement, who have decided to insert Mattarella's name in the ballot box, evading the "orders" of the leader Giuseppe Conte, who had also confirmed the blank ballot for today, together with Pd, Leu, Lega and Forza Italia.
The second interesting indication comes from the number of marks obtained by Guido Crosetto, today's candidate for the flag of the Brothers of Italy, which Giorgia Meloni has decided to put on the plate to "stir the waters" and put an end to the stalemate of these days. Fdi can count on 63 electors, the co-founder of the party obtained 115 votes, almost double, probably collecting the preferences of exponents belonging to the other two centre-right parties. A treasure that could strengthen Meloni's position within the coalition.
Casellati and the harsh words of Letta and Renzi
Burn out in minutes i 3 names proposed 24 hours ago by the centre-right, today, for many hours, there have been rumors relating to what has been defined "Salvini's temptation". According to these rumors, the leader of the League would have been enticed by the idea of "snatching", trying to elect the current president of the Chamber to the Quirinale, Elisabetta Casellati, with the votes of the center-right and some exponents of Italia Viva and Movimento 5 Stelle. Rumors that have irritated, and not a little, Matteo Renzi and Enrico Letta who met today to "agree on the next steps".
The leader of IV, accused of being at the center of a sort of exchange (the votes for Casellati in exchange for the seat of President of the Senate) categorically denied the news, speaking of "hypothesis that does not exist” and explaining what could happen if the center-right attempted “the blitz”. According to him, the centre-left would make the same move by putting his name on the table. “But you cannot elect a President of the Republic by elbowing,” added Renzi.
On the other hand, Enrico Letta's comment was very harsh, who did not put the government's estate on the table on Twitter.
A clear message sent to the center-right (Salvini above all), but perhaps also Giuseppe Conte, whose moves - from No to Draghi to the alleged direct negotiations with Salvini - would have annoyed Enrico Letta.
The Draghi-Casini scheme
One at Palazzo Chigi, the other at the Quirinale. It could be the "Draghi-Casini" scheme that brings the majority parties to agreement, prompting them to converge on the same candidate. The point is to understand who will go where.
After the positions taken by Matteo Salvini and Giuseppe Conte, according to which the current Premier should remain where he is to manage the difficult matches awaiting the Government, the most probable hypothesis seems to be that of bringing Pier Ferdinando Casini at the Quirinale and leave Draghi at Palazzo Chigi. An option that could obtain the 505 votes necessary for the white smoke given Casini's transversal career, for many years in the center-right, but since the last legislature passed to the center-left.
On the other hand, it seems more difficult to be able to find the square on the move of the current Prime Minister to Colle. In the event that Pd and IV, the two parties that most sponsor Draghi's election at the Quirinale, manage to convince the government allies, it could be Casini himself who takes up the baton from the former number one of the ECB at Palazzo Chigi.
Furthermore, given the numbers obtained today, one cannot be excluded Mattarella encore, a hypothesis that could return to the field especially in the event of a prolonged stalemate.
The next moves
In this context, contacts and negotiations between the parties are intensifying. According to Matteo Salvini "The solution may be close“. Numerous meetings are scheduled for tonight, while a meeting of the big Pd voters is convened at 21 pm.
The appointment is for tomorrow, Thursday 27 January, always at 11 for the fourth vote, the first by simple majority. It could be the day when, finally, the parties will show their cards.
