Francesco Boccia

"[This isn't the time for campaign booths. Who killed the PD?] Our generation bears a very heavy responsibility. We thought we were going to explain to those who came before us how the world worked, but instead we brought the PD down to 18% and caused the collapse of the center-left. [Is it Renzi’s fault?] The "scrapping" campaign failed spectacularly; it was a cultural and political disaster."

"[What will Boccia contribution to the new Democratic Party leadership?] I will bring the dedication and enthusiasm with which I initially ran for the party leadership, focusing on three key issues: full-time schooling, repealing the Jobs Act, and the Democratic Party’s sudden shift toward addressing the concerns of the environmental movement."

"When you no longer care for the poor, when you don’t reconnect the suburbs, the local markets, the unemployed youth, the young people in precarious jobs, and the pensioners living on the minimum pension to the very heart of the country—and through them, reach out to the institutions—you simply turn to the right and go your own way. [...] We thought that saying, “I’ll scrap everything, change everything, send them home,” because the country wasn’t working, would be enough. And yet, when put to the test by the government, this “scrapping” clearly failed to convince Italians."

"Salvini and the Five Star Movement, including Conte, acted a bit like Dracula with the blood bank. In reality, he was only concerned with feeding himself and his power—a power that is destructive to the country. Salvini has a different vision of society. I had said even before this government was formed that the Five Star Movement had nothing to do with the League. And even a year before this crazy political saga, I was among those who hoped for a different kind of alliance."

"We had asked Salvini, through Fico, to provide a briefing. Salvini refused, and this is very serious. [...] Such a significant issue—relations with Russia, our place within the Atlantic alliance, and relations with these individuals from whom Salvini has not yet distanced himself—cannot be discussed during Question Time, which has strict time limits and a rigid format. You cannot just pop into the chamber for two minutes. You come to the chamber to engage in a debate and explain to Italians in full detail what has happened, and also to hear the opposition’s arguments. [...] If he does not show up, he will first and foremost be showing disrespect for the Italian Republic, and secondly for the Democratic Party."

"You cannot govern a country by isolating yourself. The League has isolated itself in Europe. Unfortunately, a year ago, the PD isolated itself in Italy. Today, we are at the center of this political debate."

"[How did you get started in this field?] Professionally speaking, it all started by chance. I studied advertising and specialized as an art director in 1992. In 1995, I discovered the Internet and was struck by the fact that most websites were created by programmers who had no knowledge of visual communication."

"[What are the necessary requirements and professional skills?] There are so many of them that, for this very reason, web specializations have multiplied in recent years. A webmaster must certainly have a deep understanding of the world of communication. Graphic design, photography, writing, and elements of psychology are essential foundations. Programming languages or software usage take a back seat."

"At the beginning of our relationship, he was a free spirit, very much aligned with the libertine ideal embodied by Franco Califano, his idol and dearest friend. I was insecure and saw danger everywhere; today, I don’t. Family comes first for both of us. However, at the start of our relationship, he was easily distracted—that’s for sure."