Now there is no longer one left, but many. An increasingly civil and less social left. A left-left to better attack the right-right. A left that is increasingly less left-wing and increasingly anti-right. A Catholic left that is increasingly left-wing and less and less Catholic… But there is one thing that gives identity to all leftists. Something that is itself left-wing. A Gramscian and ergonomically left-wing instance. In short: the thing on which the left is based.
And it’s the armchair.
The latest clash for a seat is between Beppe Sala – mayor of Milan, where power is called cadrèga – and Goffredo Bettini – dominus of the Roman left, where power is called Pd – to decide the new president of the association of Municipalities Italians. And the reason for the fight isn’t even the candidates (one supports the mayor of Turin, the other that of Naples, and who cares), but how the choice is being made. Sala was annoyed because the leaders of the left found themselves at his opponent’s house: “You can’t decide the president in Bettini’s living room.” And Bettini was offended because they accused him of plotting in Sala’s shadow: “It was just my birthday party.” Which however is November 5th.
Armchairs and babà. Milani & Sofas. Roman sofas. Hall and lounges. There are those who go up and there are those who go up.
The Button Room. Buttons and Bettini. Bettini and hookers. Buttons and sofas.
Perhaps it is true that you don’t change parties for a seat. But when faced with certain things it can happen that you mistake a party for a great seat.