Clear defeat, right's wind still strong, must build-Schlein

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 29 - Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein said the centre left's winning only one of seven provincial capitals in Monday's run-offs and its poor showing in Sicily had been a a "clear" defeat and showed that the headwinds that had blown the right to victory in last September's general election were still strong.
    "It's a clear defeat. The win in favour of the rights (sic) is still strong and is still there. We thank all those who made the effort, our candidates, in these elections. They knew it would be difficult, it takes time to build a winning centre left. The fact that the PD is the top party in the list vote is not a consolation".
    Schlein was addressing a party directorate meeting called after the local-election results, in which the centre right held on to three Tuscan cities, won another there, and wrested control of historic Marche fief Ancona after 30 years, with the PD-led alliance only winning Vicenza of the seven provincial capitals up for grabs.
    "It is evident that you can't win on your own," she added, stressing the need to build alliances on the centre left with the 5-Star Movement or the so-called Third Pole, which at the moment are mutually exclsuive and with the latter saying Schelin is too far to the left. (ANSA).