Edward Marchesi On September 14, 2026, at the large Arena Iren Green Park in Reggio Emilia, the Democratic Party secretary gave a decisive speech before a crowd gathered at Campovolo. At the opening of the National Unity Festival, she addressed a direct message to Giorgia Meloni, opening her letter with the words: "Dear Prime Minister, let's join forces on climate and energy."
The appeal took shape in five concrete proposals, designed to transform the flexibility of the energy sector into tangible benefits for families, businesses, and communities.
Schlein presents five proposals on climate and energy in Reggio Emilia
During her speech, the Democratic Party leader outlined a five-point plan, each aimed at reducing household bills, incentivizing local renewable energy production, supporting the competitiveness of small and medium-sized businesses, strengthening grid infrastructure in the most vulnerable municipalities, and promoting the transition to sustainable mobility.
The proposals include, for example, the extension of tax deductions for thermal insulation work, tax credits for the installation of photovoltaic systems on residential roofs, and a special fund for the energy requalification of industrial areas in crisis. Each measure is designed to create a virtuous cycle of savings and growth.
The measures designed for families, businesses and territories
The first aspect of the program aims to reduce household energy costs through a renewed green bonus, intended for those who undertake energy efficiency improvement work. The second initiative supports businesses with a 30% incentive for the purchase of energy-efficient machinery and for ISO 50001 certification. The third aspect focuses on local areas , with the creation of electricity microgrids in rural areas, encouraging self-generation and reducing dependence on the national grid. The final two measures aim to enhance sustainable mobility through grants for the purchase of electric vehicles and the expansion of charging stations in the most congested urban areas.
The discussion on the reconstruction of the center-left and the criticism of the government
Schlein then reviewed the center-left's path in recent years, recalling that "after the defeat, the center-left forces stopped talking to each other." After three and a half years of stubbornly united work, the Democratic Party now presents itself as "the indispensable linchpin of the progressive coalition." The leader emphasized that the alliance governed together in all regions last year, maintaining that "it is an alliance that governs well." In closing, she called Giorgia Meloni 's government "unnecessarily long" and emphasized that, after four years, the group's policies have failed to produce concrete improvements in the economic, social, and environmental spheres, calling the neoliberal model "failed and unsustainable."
Primaries, joint program and upcoming elections
The final part of the speech focused on the urgency of accelerating the common program . Schlein emphasized that "it's not enough to simply add together the proposals of each party; we need values, a vision that frees people from need." He also reiterated that "the program comes before the name, but if there's no agreement on the primaries, we're not afraid." The final message was a call to "win the primaries and beat Meloni" to offer the country a credible alternative. The speech concluded with a call to invest in healthcare, wages, climate, and rights, presenting Schlein's proposal as a concrete response to the challenges of our time.