The politics that unites: why humility and competence are the true strength of change.

 Elena Ethel Schlein, known as Elly (IPA: /ˈɛlli ʃˈlain/; born May 4, 1985, in Lugano), is an Italian politician who has served as the Secretary of the Democratic Party since March 12, 2023.

Having belonged to various left-wing and centre-left political formations, she was a Member of the European Parliament for Italy during the 8th legislature. Running with her own list in the 2020 Emilia-Romagna regional election, she was elected regional councillor to the Legislative Assembly of Emilia-Romagna and served as Vice President of the regional government led by Stefano Bonaccini until October 24, 2022. In the general election of September 25, 2022, she ran for the Chamber of Deputies as an independent on the Democratic Party – Democratic and Progressive Italy list and was elected deputy. In 2023, she ran in the Democratic Party primary election, winning the leadership contest with 54% of the vote and becoming the first woman, as well as the youngest person, to lead the party.

In addition to her Italian citizenship, she also holds American and Swiss citizenship.

She was born on May 4, 1985, in Lugano, Ticino (Switzerland). Her father, Melvin Schlein, is an American political scientist and academic of Ashkenazi Jewish origin: Elly Schlein’s paternal ancestors originally came from Zhovkva, a village near Lviv, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is located in present-day Ukraine. Upon arriving at Ellis Island, her grandfather changed his original name, Harschel Schleyen, to Harry Schlein. The name Elly combines those of her two grandmothers: her maternal grandmother Elena and her paternal grandmother Ethel, who was of Lithuanian origin. At the time of her birth, her father was professor emeritus of political science and history at Franklin University Switzerland in Lugano.

Her mother is Maria Paola Viviani, an Italian full professor of comparative public law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Insubria. She is the daughter of lawyer Agostino Viviani, who was a senator for the Italian Socialist Party, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and, from 1994 to 1998, a lay member of the High Council of the Judiciary (CSM) representing Forza Italia. Her brother is the mathematician Benjamin Schlein (1975–), and her sister Susanna (1978–) is First Diplomatic Counselor at the Italian Embassy in Athens and former head of the consular section at the Italian Embassy in Tirana.

After graduating from the Cantonal High School of Lugano in 2004 with top marks, Elly moved to Bologna, where in March 2011 she graduated with highest honors in law from the University of Bologna, defending a thesis in constitutional law under professor Andrea Morrone.

Humility and competence are the true engines of change.

We have grown accustomed to a politics of shouting, fanbases, slogans, and rigid divisions. Yet, when we talk about the daily life of citizens—working services, schools, transport, jobs—ideological formulas give way to something far more concrete: the ability to do things well.

In this context, the work, dedication, and leadership style of the Secretary of the Democratic Party offer a point of reflection that goes well beyond party lines. This is not about propaganda or taking sides on the right or left, but about recognizing the value of a working method built on three fundamental pillars: professional preparation, attentive listening, and humility.

Beyond Propaganda: The Three Pillars of Public Service

To build a strong and united community, political action must rediscover a threefold dimension:

• Psychological (Reassuring listening): An administration close to its people begins with empathy. Understanding the real anxieties and needs of citizens means breaking down the wall of loneliness that often grows between people and institutions.

• Sociological (Strengthening cohesion): Communities only grow if they walk together. Joining forces, valuing local excellence, and leaving no one behind are the only ways to build collective trust and shared drive.

• Pedagogical (Educational example): Politics is also civil pedagogy. Rigorous commitment, transparency, and restraint show younger generations that institutions are places of responsibility and respect, not of conflict.

Dialogue as the Engine: The Lesson of Paulo Freire

To spark citizens' interest and reignite the desire to participate, it is worth revisiting the teachings of Paulo Freire, one of the greatest educational theorists of the 20th century. Freire explained that no real social transformation can be imposed from above: community growth occurs only through genuine dialogue, where every person is recognized as an active protagonist of their own future.

Applying this principle means moving beyond ideological barriers. When an initiative is valid and a project improves everyone's quality of life, its worth does not depend on which political side proposed it, but on the results it brings to the community.

Starting Anew from Shared Commitment

Rewarding the humility and professionalism of those who lead institutions means investing in everyone's future. If we want real change, the first step is to move past blind allegiance and evaluate politics by its ability to create cohesion, value, and opportunity for all citizens.

Edited by Francesca Giordano

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