Mamdani wins, and Schlein celebrates: "It's a victory for the poor over the millionaires, for hope over fear."

At the Nazareno, there's a huge celebration. Statements rain down from the Democratic Party bastions like rockets and firecrackers on the Piedigrotta night. Elly seems enthusiastic, and truly is: " A splendid victory for Zohran Mamdani. He won a collective campaign of one hundred thousand volunteers against the millionaires who financed his opponents, and a heavy smear campaign against Trump himself. The left is back to winning with clear programs. The politics of hope wins over the politics of fear."

For once, this isn't the Italian left's proverbial foreign-loving attitude, the kind that has driven leaders to elect Blair, Zapatero, Holland, and Obama as prophets. In all those cases, a provincial left looked abroad for a compass, and the one Blair offered did almost incalculable damage. This time, Mamdani's triumph is a confirmation for Schlein and the majority of his party, and there's a world of difference between the two. Mamdani won against Trump , but also, quite explicitly, against the Democratic Party establishment. The tension between the secretary, a segment of the party she leads, and an even broader segment of the center-left political spectrum is less exposed than the one tearing apart their American cousins—not as explicit, but otherwise very similar.

Targeted by many, including Romano Prodi, for her decision to ignore moderate voters to give the Democratic Party a fully left-wing identity, even at the risk of being accused of extremism, Elly finds support and comfort on the other side of the pond. The stance of Mamdani and the coalition that supported him is essentially very similar to that of the Italian leader. The minority is also celebrating, albeit in more subdued tones. Pina Picierno celebrates all three Democratic victories, New York , but also Virginia and New Jersey, "different but clear signals: a turning point is possible, Trump is not unbeatable." Alfieri, from the minority, also celebrates Trump's defeat above all: " When you think you've lost hope, America surprises you again. After months of resignation, a spark of hope." Different nuances that come together in a shared satisfaction for a signal so powerful it authorizes belief, or hope, in a real turning point. In the opposition camp, the only one not to raise his glass is Renzi's Scalfarotto: " Mamdani seems to me to be the other face of Trump."

But while everyone is cheering for the game being played out covertly on the left, only Elly stands to gain from the resurgence of the American left. Both within the party and in the even more covert competition with her Five Star allies. It's no coincidence that silence is almost mandatory within the Movement, and throughout the day Conte doesn't let slip any comments whatsoever. The wind from New York may be blowing in the sails of the Democratic Party, perhaps even those of Avs, which is indeed jubilant: not those of the Five Star Movement. Mamdani is too left-wing, too " socialist," for a Movement that, despite its alignment with the Campo largo, is not and doesn't want to be left-wing. Only Fico, who among the Five Star Movement is perhaps the most openly and frankly left-leaning, lets himself go: "This is wonderful news."

The mourning on the other side of the fence is mirrored. The Italian Communist Party (FdI) is silent. The prime minister doesn't concede a word, and never has silence been more eloquent. Tajani imitates her. Salvini, however, does not. He foams with anger and doesn't hide it: "In the city wounded by September 11th, they have chosen a socialist, pro-human rights, pro-gender mayor. These are the new idols of the left." Vannacci, as usual, goes even further and unleashes incontinent Islamophobia: "New York has a Muslim mayor. The West celebrates its cultural surrender by calling it progress." Statements and sincere emotions aside, it's by no means a given that what happens in New York and the US in general will have a significant impact on Italy. Usually, this isn't the case, but this time it can't be ruled out. International politics has been taking precedence over domestic politics for months, and this has rarely happened, never for so long. In such a context, America is much closer today than it was just a few years ago. The blow dealt to Trump was very strong, though not yet fatal, and the Italian prime minister did everything she could to establish herself as the head of government closest to Trump in Europe.

Finally, the similarity between the Democratic Party secretary's stance and that of the new mayor of the Apple district is striking. It's not even out of the question that, on the eve of an imminent election campaign, the leaders of the Italian left, starting with the Democratic Party secretary, will heed the guidance coming from New York. Mamdani, as Elly herself points out, won thanks to a few very clear proposals that were deeply felt by the electorate: on rent, on transportation prices, on free daycare. It could be the winning formula on this side of the pond as well.

FROM

David Romoli