The League: no new appointments. Salvini and Zaia remain at odds
The secretary’s plan for renewal centres on the team, the organisation and the issues. Those close to the former Doge are convinced that Zaia will not accept the appointment as deputy secretary without a reorganisation of the party on a federal basis, allowing the interests of the North to be better represented (accompanied by a party conference to ratify the change to the party constitution).
Key points
- The offensive by the “Northern” wing
No change of direction. No green light for a Lega Nord re-founded on a federal basis (a national Lega with a ‘northern’ wing enjoying broad autonomy, modelled on the Bavarian CDU-CSU arrangement) as advocated by former regional governor Luca Zaia. But also a determination to ‘recognise the great commitment of local administrators (who are appreciated across all regions) within the party’, as stated in the final official statement. Matteo Salvini attempts to summarise the situation at the end of the party’s Federal Council meeting. Three hours of “frank” discussion in the party’s Chamber of Deputies group room with the League’s senior leadership (all present in person), during which heated exchanges were not lacking. At one point, Lombardy’s governor Fontana stood up and walked out.
New meeting on Wednesday
Faced with Vannacci’s offensive and a drop in the polls, Salvini needs to revitalise the party to avoid falling below 10% in the general election. The secretary’s strategy for renewal centres on the team, the organisation and the issues. This will be discussed in detail at a new meeting of the ‘federal’ committee next Wednesday, with the aim of reaching an agreement at the retreat on 4 and 5 July in Treviso. No new appointments for now, although it cannot be ruled out that the proposal for Zaia to take on the role of deputy secretary will be formalised shortly.
The offensive by the “Northern” wing
The northern wing (ranging from governors Attilio Fontana and Massimiliano Fedriga, who are close to Zaia’s views, to group leaders Massimiliano Romeo and Riccardo Molinari) is, however, urging the secretary – albeit in slightly different ways – to make a decisive change of direction. The fear is that, otherwise, the League risks a crushing defeat when the polls open again. The leader is criticised for his tarnished image, caught as he is between Vannacci and Meloni.
The push for a return to the Home Office during this parliamentary term
Hence the call for greater visibility and a more prominent role. At the meeting, there is open talk of Salvini returning to the Home Office towards the end of this parliamentary term, because ‘the government is doing a great deal on security, but we need a politician who can explain the results achieved’. And there are those who insist on more decisive political action on taxation, pensions, measures such as the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) extended to the North, and infrastructure development, because ‘if public works lack resources, they must be found’.
Zaia's requests
But there is also strong pressure to establish a firmer foothold in local communities. “We must focus on renewing the party and revive the ‘Northern Question’, which is in the Lega’s DNA,” Zaia urges in his speech. The reasoning is that the challenge to the centre-left and to Vannacci, considered incompatible with the League’s values, must be pursued pragmatically on concrete issues, such as the protection of the self-employed and SMEs. Those close to the former Doge are convinced that Zaia will not accept the appointment as deputy secretary without a reorganisation of the party on a federal basis, allowing the concerns of the North to be better represented (accompanied by a congress to ratify the change to the party constitution). A plan that the ‘Salvinian’ faction fears is a Trojan horse designed to wrest leadership from the current secretary. In short, the positions of Salvini and Zaia remain far apart. The game is wide open. The outcome is far from certain.
