Government: why Salvini wants to return to the Viminal, even if he remains at Mit for now

Matteo Salvini, acclaimed secretary of the League for the third time, wants to return to the Viminale. There, militants and Carroccio leaders are calling for him. And he himself did not back down when on Sunday from the stage in Florence the vice-premier said he was 'available' for a possible return. The stigma of the kidnapping charge has now fallen thanks to the acquittal at the Open Arms trial in Palermo. The aspiration is legitimate. But it would imply that the current holder of the ministry, Matteo Piantedosi, would take a step back. Something that, at least at the moment, he does not seem intent on doing, strengthened also by the support of FdI and Forza Italia who defend his actions.

For some time Salvini has been convinced that only as minister of the interior can he boost the League's percentages and thus hope for the other goal inscribed in the party's name: the League as first party in the coalition and Salvini as premier. With only one more attempt available, that of the next elections. Because this term of office, he has made it clear, will be his last: 'At the next congress I will be here as a delegate, and here in the room there is who will be the next secretary, although I do not know who,' said Salvini, who will not be running for secretary at the assemblies scheduled for 2029.

But among government allies, the proposal is seen as an ad personam reshuffle that is neither necessary nor wanted. Salvini at the Viminale? "I have a high regard for Minister Piantedosi, he is working very well,' Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said coldly on the sidelines of the EU Trade Council. And the Prime Minister herself has always made it clear that she does not like any reshuffle. In the face of the allies' wall and Meloni's silence, caution becomes a must and the League explains that if, on the one hand, "the party's desire is clear", "Salvini does not intend to force or accelerate", he is "totally immersed in his work at the Mit" with an approach that is always constructive for the benefit of the majority". Conclusion: the party 'does not and will not pose problems for Giorgia Meloni'. For now, Salvini remains at the Ministry of Infrastructure.

And it is probably in order to defuse any possible tensions that Salvini himself is in touch with the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantendosi (his chief of staff when the League leader was the Viminale's incumbent at the time of the Conte I government), as reported by League sources, assuring that 'between the two there is esteem, friendship and harmony. The human, professional and political feeling will never diminish and is not in question'. And Salvini, a guest on 'Five minutes' on Raiuno, puts the brakes on: "I believe that Piantedosi, in addition to being a loyal servant of the state, is also an excellent minister. We also give answers by approving the security decree'.

According to the leghist vulgate, in the event of a reshuffle, Piantedosi could leave the Interior Ministry and run for the presidency of Campania at the next regional elections. A prospect that, however, the incumbent of the Viminale does not seem to consider at all. At least for now: 'Outside the ministry I only aspire to a role at Avellino Calcio, it is the only passion I cultivate outside the Viminale,' he replies.