Member of Parliament, Veneto councillor, minister: here is what Zaia's future could be
After 15 years at the helm of the region, the Doge still hasn't decided what he will do. There has been talk of a candidacy as mayor of Venice next year. Another hypothesis is a 'heavy' ministry in the event of a possible reshuffle of the Meloni government. Finally, the presidency of Eni, a sort of 'luxury car park' while waiting to fill a political box of weight.
Key points
'Me in Parliament? I'd better devote myself to the regionals'. This is how the outgoing governor of Veneto Luca Zaia, league leader in the 23 and 24 November regional elections, shielded himself from the latest proposal by the Lega Nord leader Matteo Salvini, who has put him up for the by-elections for the Chamber of Deputies to replace Alberto Stefani, the obvious winner of next Sunday and Monday's elections. The vote would be in February, in the Polesine, Rovigo constituency. But Zaia's words betray disappointment at not having been consulted earlier by the leader. All the more so since the Doge is conducting a tight campaign in the territory.
After all, relations between the two have been frosty for months. 'I,' Zaia recalled, 'am always a candidate for everything that comes my way, for all offices. In recent weeks I have gone from the presidency of Eni to the presidency of the regional council, to parliamentarian rather than mayor of Venice and other activities'. And again: 'I am absolutely focused on this election campaign and in any case I make my contribution. And then I always want to be at the disposal of my land and this I have always said. And so I will see what to do'
Salvini's braking
Beyond the jokes, Salvini's move was read on the outgoing governor's side as an attempt to distance him from his Veneto, and his Liga, and was therefore badly digested. It is no coincidence that Salvini immediately put on the brakes afterwards. 'Together we will decide what to do, where to do it. There are many possibilities, if he wants to stay five years to fight for the Veneto, in the Veneto, fine. I am interested in Luca Zaia and the League taking a lot of votes' in the regional elections in Veneto and that 'from next Tuesday Alberto Stefani will be in office. Then Zaia, for what he has done great in these 15 years, can absolutely decide what to do for the Veneto people, in Veneto or elsewhere'.
The assumptions
But there is no doubt that Zaia's future, after the disappointment over the allies' rejection of his third term in Palazzo Balbi and the niet to his name in the Lega's symbol in Veneto, is a central issue affecting the Carroccio. Rumours and inferences have been circulating for months. There has been talk of a post-Brungnaro candidacy as Mayor of Venice next year. Another hypothesis is a heavyweight ministry in the event of a possible reshuffle of the Meloni government. Finally, the presidency of Eni, a sort of 'luxury car park' waiting to fill a political box of weight. But it is also not excluded that in the end Zaia will decide to remain in the regional council. While for now, despite the drop in support for Salvini, a climbdown from Via Bellerio is not on the agenda.
The stakes
Of course, the numbers of preferences that he will collect as the League's leader in the upcoming regional elections will also be important. Thanks to its traction, the Carroccio could once again become the leading party in the region, overtaking Fdi, by which it was largely overtaken in the 2022 political and 2024 European elections
