No unity at all cost for opposition says Schlein

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 1 - Unity is not a value to be reached at all cost - it only becomes one when it is achieved through a coherent project for the opposition, the leader of the main opposition party Elly Schlein said Sunday, addressing the national assembly of Green Europe in Chianciano, Tuscany.
    The leader of the Democratic Party (PD) thanked allies in the Green Left Alliance (AVS) at the assembly for the "loyal relationship we have built during these months of work - a relationship that we want to be increasingly closer and that brought us to win" in elections held earlier this month in the Emilia Romagna and Umbria regions where candidates backed by a broad centre-left alliance became governors.
    Schlein, however, noted that "unity is nor a value at all cost, but it becomes one when it is able to focus on a coherent project, a defined program and shared values".
    The PD chief also stressed the government needed to respect the right to strike in the wake of a general mobilization called by two of Italy's main labour unions, CGIL and UIL on Friday.
    "We tell the government, hands off the right to strike which is enshrined in the Constitution.
    "The voice of millions of workers cannot be stifled", she said.
    Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini on Saturday said he was ready to act ahead of 15 strikes scheduled to take place in December before the holidays.
    Salvini was speaking a day after the general strike caused the closure of some schools and factories, curtailed medical services and led to the cancellation of flights, bus and metro services as part of a protest organized by two of the country's largest unions against the 2025 budget bill.
    The transport minister said that he was ready "to intervene to help citizens" protests scheduled in December, including a general strike on the 13th, after the strike in the transport sector last Friday was reduced to 4 hours from eight, based on a back-to-work ordinance signed by Salvini. (ANSA).