Overview
- Pina Picierno, vice president of the European Parliament, announced she is leaving the Partito Democratico and said the party no longer represents reformists.
- In an interview she criticized what she called PD ambiguity toward 'fascismo putiniano' and other extremisms and said that position helped drive her decision.
- Sources told ANSA that Picierno plans to join the European Democratic Party, led by Sandro Gozi, which sits with the Renew group in the European Parliament.
- Her break follows earlier clashes inside the PD over the exclusion of a Jewish LGBT group from Rome Pride and disagreements about proposed justice reforms.
- The departure sharpens existing splits in Italy's centre-left and could reshape pro‑European alliances and electoral strategy as parties prepare for upcoming votes.