Conte (M5s): ready to vote, focus on the progressive program

"The vote in the spring? When it comes, we will be ready, already this autumn we will have a shared project and program. There is no delay." The leader of the M5s Giuseppe Conte said this to Aria which brings up La7.

Regarding Russian interference in the vote, "it seems to me that it was an alarm raised somewhat hastily" added Conte, during a press point in Cerisano, in the Cosentino area. "That there are hybrid and cyber wars - he continued - has been known for many years. There are criminal organizations and apparatuses close to some autocracies that work in this direction. We must always monitor and be vigilant for our cyber security, but raising alarms without any foundation at this moment seems to me quite light-hearted to say and do".

"The aspiration of the secretary of the main party, the Democratic Party, "to be the prime ministerial candidate of the entire coalition is perfectly legitimate". "However, if it is the first time that we go into coalition, we, and I imagine the other parties, cannot accept this rule", he added.

"Large field is your expression, I prefer to define it as progressive field. The first is a quantitative measure of extension, the second means that there is a coherent, solid, alternative program to those who are governing us by impoverishing the middle classes, families and businesses". "We must - he continued - work to try to make all citizens feel like protagonists of our civil coexistence. We must work so that the weakest groups feel represented, reasonably returning to a more equitable concept of redistribution of wealth compared to the many inequalities and inequities that exist today, and even worsened, thanks to four years of Meloni's government and zero reforms".

"The progressive front doesn't question the primaries. It's you journalists who ask us every day. The progressive front is finalizing the program" said Conte. "We of the M5s have been on a great journey for months, exchanging solutions, priorities and emergencies with the population, which we will close on 19 and 20 September in Milan with the Nova event", he explained. "Immediately afterwards - added Conte - we will discuss with the other forces to define a shared program. You are eager to know who the prime ministerial candidate will be but we will see it in due time".

"I have no elements to say whether" Roberto Vannacci "was financed by Russia, I did not understand his ambiguity in condemning Russia, the country he attacked. It is an incomprehensible attitude". In the M5s "we were the first to condemn" Moscow, therefore "accusing me of being pro-Russian is like accusing the Pope who is" pushing "for a turning point in negotiations". "Why can't the EU work to build a horizon of peace and security?" Conte said. "The Russophobia that Salvini talks about? I can't comment on Salvini because he says everything and the opposite of everything, but I see a great indulgence towards Russia that I don't understand." “The madness is military escalation.”

"It is not true that this government is not declining in consensus, it has disappointed so much that Vannacci, who is not in the government, has become fourth." This is "justified by the failures experienced first hand even by the right-wing electorate" concluded Conte, "they occupied 90% of the media space".