Italy’s centre-left opposition is confronting internal uncertainty as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni continues to dominate the political landscape, The Times reports. Opposition leader Elly Schlein, who took over the Democratic Party in 2023, has struggled to dent Meloni’s popularity, prompting speculation that another rising star, Genoa Mayor Silvia Salis, could emerge as a challenger.
Schlein and Meloni shared an unusual moment of levity on Tuesday, coincidentally boarding the same flight south to campaign ahead of weekend regional elections. Photographed laughing together on the runway, the two politicians later faced off at rallies, highlighting the sharp contrast between public camaraderie and political rivalry.
Despite her efforts, Schlein’s alliance with the Five Star Movement failed to overcome Meloni’s governing coalition in a recent regional contest in the Marche region. Claudio Cerasa, editor of the Rome-based newspaper Il Foglio, told The Times that the centre-left “is missing a strong identity” and described Schlein’s public statements as “banal” attempts to avoid internal coalition divisions.
Schlein has occasionally landed pointed critiques, ridiculing Meloni for portraying herself as a victim of left-wing harassment and questioning the prime minister’s claims about activists on a Gaza flotilla. Yet, former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told The Times that the Democrats misjudged voter priorities by focusing too heavily on Gaza rather than Italy’s struggling economy.
Political analysts say Schlein faces an uphill battle against Meloni, who continues to be seen as a plain-speaking, globally connected leader. Giovanni Orsina, a political expert at Luiss University, told The Times that while Schlein is tenacious, she lacks the experience and international profile that Meloni enjoys.
Attention is now turning to Silvia Salis, 40, the recently elected mayor of Genoa and a former Olympian, who has been hailed as a rising star on the left. While Salis has downplayed speculation about challenging Schlein for the Democratic Party leadership, political observers note that a vote for opposition leadership, potentially required under a new law, could open the door to her candidacy.
Analysts suggest that Meloni may prefer to face Schlein rather than Salis at the next general election, due in 2027, seeing the younger leader’s relative inexperience as an advantage. For now, the centre-left continues to search for a compelling alternative capable of matching the popularity of Italy’s first female prime minister.
