Garavaglia takes on Salvini: ‘I’m standing as a candidate at the party conference; the League is not far-right’

‘Yes, I’m standing as a candidate’ at the Lega congress. This was confirmed by Massimo Garavaglia, senator and former Minister for Tourism, as well as Chair of the Finance and Treasury Committee at Palazzo Madama, following the news published on Il Foglio. Garavaglia’s candidacy comes as a surprise, ahead of the extraordinary congress of the Lega, to be held in Milan on 24 and 25 October, joining that of the outgoing secretary Matteo Salvini, who will therefore not be the only one standing for the leadership.

“There’s a party congress. And I believe this is the ideal forum for an open debate on the party’s political line,” explains Garavaglia, who is keeping his cards close to his chest for the time being regarding his policy platform, but makes clear his ideological continuity with Bossi: “The League is not a far-right party, but rather a federalist, liberal and anti-fascist one.” To stand as a candidate at the party conference, 80 signatures from delegates (from four regions) are required. But Garavaglia appears unfazed. “I’m not worried about it,” he remarks. “Salvini has always said that they’re not a problem and that, should there be a challenger, the secretary would find the signatures himself.” Not only that. The presence of a second candidate makes a secret ballot at the congress necessary. For Salvini’s critics, this will be an opportunity to ‘weigh up’ their dissent whilst at the same time avoiding a landslide vote. Even so, Salvini’s re-election seems a foregone conclusion, given that the delegates are the same ones who acclaimed him as secretary at last year’s congress in Florence.

After all, Salvini – who had called for other candidates besides himself, taking a dig at the opposition, remains unfazed by the announcement that Garavaglia is entering the race: ‘I’ve called a congress so that people can stand as candidates, put forward proposals, bring ideas and table motions. So, that’s fine,’ he comments. ‘The more people there are bringing ideas, the better. I’m convinced of my own ideas, and it will be the party members who decide what the League is and what it will become.’

Meanwhile, Garavaglia emphasises that he has also discussed his candidacy with the Governor of Lombardy Attilio Fontana: “Of course, he’s a friend,” says the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. “But I have many friends throughout Italia.” Fontana, together with the Senate group leader Massimiliano Romeo, has openly criticised leader Salvini’s approach in recent months, calling for a collective leadership of the party and promoting the creation of an association within the Carroccio to bring the issues of federalism and the concerns of the North’s business community to the forefront of political debate. However, he has so far kept a low profile regarding the party congress: “None of us called for the party congress, so it’s not an issue we’re particularly concerned about,” he stated yesterday. Now Garavaglia’s candidacy is shaking things up. Support from Fontana and Romeo for the former minister is inevitable. But what will the former Doge Luca Zaia (advocate of a ‘liberal’ Lega structured on a federal basis, modelled on the Bavarian CSU-CDU) and the governor of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga, who have so far been part of the ‘northern faction’ alongside Romeo and Fontana?

What is certain is that a motion will be tabled in Parliament summarising the demands of the North, put forward by the group leader in the Chamber of Deputies Riccardo Molinari, in line with outgoing Secretary Salvini’s stance, focusing on the revival of autonomy and federalism as well as the extension of the single Special Economic Zone (ZES) to the northern regions too. This motion is expected to be supported not only by the Governor of Veneto, Alberto Stefani (who has always been close to Salvini) but also Fedriga and Zaia, who would thus agree to a sort of truce with Salvini in exchange for a greater commitment to continuing the fight for federalism in the next parliamentary term (having secured agreements on differentiated autonomy in non-LEP matters during this one). So much so that there is already talk of cracks in the governors’ front. Among other things, one of the governors could join the new political secretariat announced by Salvini ahead of the Congress, to be held following an ad hoc amendment to the Statute.