Reggio Emilia, September 10, 2026 – At the National Unity Festival of Reggio Emilia, the surprise arrival of Elly Schlein immediately turns into a moment of celebration for everyone. Amid the smell of food, the festival lights, and the background music, the visit turns into a warm embrace: as soon as the secretary of the Democratic Party arrives among the stands, in fact, many people gather around her. In a few minutes, a diverse crowd forms, including long-time activists, curious visitors who came for the occasion, and people looking for a selfie or a quick comment on current issues. The walk proceeds at a slow pace, marked by handshakes, smiles, and quick exchanges of words.
The joy of the volunteers
The greatest involvement is shown by the festival volunteers. Those behind the kitchens or serving at the tables take advantage of the break to approach: some wipe their flour-covered hands on their aprons before the customary greetings, and others step away from the stoves, using the brief pause to extend a handshake and quickly raise some issues about work and healthcare.
“Electoral law: Meloni has lost face”
Despite the festive atmosphere, Schlein does not hesitate to comment on the debate about the electoral law: “To avoid losing the law, Meloni has lost face. We clearly remember when, a few years ago, she claimed that any electoral system was fine as long as it included preferences. Now that the united opposition has presented an amendment to introduce them for all parliamentarians, the right wing voted against it. These are the facts. The rest – she continues – is just Giorgia Meloni’s propaganda, who with her majority voted for an amendment that reintroduces blocked party lists.” The secretary insists: “This is an unconstitutional law that we will continue to oppose and on which, together with the other opposition parties, we will build a wall, because it provides a huge bonus and serves as a prelude to the premiership.”
The meeting with Elio Germano and the law for cinema
The Festival also featured actor Elio Germano. The meeting with the secretary of the Democratic Party took place shortly before the presentation of the documentary Return to the Tratturo, of which the actor is co-author. “I came to support you,” she told him.
During the conversation, the two exchanged some observations on the law for cinema, recently approved in Parliament.
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“It is a law that gives a clear signal to the film sector, to the audiovisual sector in Italy – Schlein said –. We stand by them because they have gone through difficult times, because there is a need for a clear, solid regulatory framework.” And again: “This law for the first time introduces an agency for cinema and audiovisual, which means independence, professionalism, autonomy from politics. We also introduce in this law support for entertainment workers, who have discontinuous careers, paths that are too often precarious.”
Matteo Renzi and the broad front
And then Schlein, in response to the question about “keeping Matteo Renzi within the broad front”: “We continue to work without vetoes, but on issues because that is what people care about. Now we will work on the program because the most important thing is to clarify to Italians the alternative we are offering them.” She added: “The first thing to address is the cost of energy, which is why as the PD we have turned to Giorgia Meloni to make a five-point proposal on how to use the 14 billion of European flexibility to finally lower the cost of energy for Italian families and businesses.” Elly Schlein is also expected in Reggio on Sunday for the closing of the National Unity Festival.
Solidarity with Electrolux workers
Finally, the issue of work and the hot topic of Electrolux: “The news has just arrived that there are more layoffs planned by Electrolux in Forlì. We give our full solidarity to those workers and ask Giorgia Meloni to take care of these industrial disputes. Those workers are not only defending their livelihood, they are defending the manufacturing future of this country that no one can think of giving up.”
