Feuding is inevitable. Too many seats are lost, too much rancour is pent up. Mr Rutelli's job will be to stop it turning into a long civil war. The omens are mixed. The Olive Tree's biggest branch, the Democrats of the Left, has not completed its transition from communism to social democracy.
Policies embraced by other centre-left parties in Europe remain taboo.
Also the party cannot decide whether to unite the coalition into a single bloc like the US Democrats. And Mr D'Alema remains on the wings, suspected of plotting a comeback. There is a wild card. The trade unions are restive and are likely to challenge Mr Berlusconi soon over pay, pensions and rights. Street demonstrations helped topple his first government and could do for his second.