The besieged strongholds of the Italian Left

Like many of its voters, the opposition Democratic Party (PD) in Italy feels like it's "in exile in its own land", writes Ilvo Diamanti in the left-liberal daily La Repubblica, commenting on the heavy losses suffered by the party in the regional and local elections held concurrently with the European elections. The party is besieged from two sides, Diamanti writes: by the right-wing populist Lega Nord on the one hand, and the liberal IdV [Italy of Values] on the other: "The Lega is a territorial party [pursuing the federalist objective of giving more power to the regions], the IdV a party with no territory. ... Until yesterday [the Left] could pretty much mark out the red boundaries. Today these zones are pink. ... The Lega Nord has penetrated the territory of the Left with the language of fear and localism. ... [The PD] has lost its orientation. The IdV is snapping at its heels and its strongholds are being laid siege to ... by the Lega."

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