Three hours of face-to-face discussion in the “old” Miglio room in via Bellerio in Milan. The League meets to analyze the results of the regional elections in Calabria, Marche and Tuscany and to regroup in view of the “mother challenge” in Veneto.
It is therefore natural that the federal council opens with applause for the outgoing “doge” Luca Zaia and for the one who it is hoped will take his place at Palazzo Balbi, Alberto Stefani, both justified absentees, connected remotely because they are involved in the electoral campaign in view of the regional elections of 23-24 November. The objective, says Matteo Salvini, is to confirm himself at the helm of the Region with the League as the first party.
In the meeting, according to what AGI has learned, the secretary of the Via Bellerio party reiterated that he considers it right that the banks contribute to the budget law, at a delicate moment for Italy. Above all – this is Salvini’s reasoning – because credit institutions have benefited from the stabilization of the country thanks to the government’s action which has restored investor confidence.
Hence the need, it is reported, for banks to avoid raising barricades. Otherwise – this is the warning from the head of via Bellerio – the contributions could be increased, if not doubled.
Justified connection, because he is involved in the last stages of the finalization of the budget law before it arrives in Parliament, Giancarlo Giorgetti, for his part, invited those present to be wary of the drafts circulated in recent days and to have patience while waiting for the final text of the maneuver.
Another topic of discussion, this time internal, is the activism of Roberto Vannacci, after the disappointing result of the Tuscan regional elections (4.38%; one elected), the first electoral test for the general who coordinated the electoral campaign under the slogan “Tuscany turns to the right”.
The MEP, who was not present because he was busy with the plenary session in Strasbourg, is free to do what he wants, but he cannot create a party within a party: this is the push that emerged within the council. “I have nothing against Vannacci but there is only one League”, the president of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana would have said, raising the issue.
The input received from Salvini, therefore, is that the MEP’s teams carry out activities as cultural associations, not political ones. The example cited by some is that of ‘Lighthouse-Rebuild the Country’, the Foundation that Flavio Tosi used in 2015 to – it was the suspicion at the time – launch his candidacy for the Veneto regional elections of that year. Membership of the ‘Farì was declared incompatible with that of the League and Tosi was subsequently expelled from the party (he is now in Forza Italia).
As regards the Lombard regional elections, the secretary Massimiliano Romeo reported to the federal government the unanimous vote of the regional board last night, which gave him the mandate to continue pressing so that the candidacy for the presidency remains with the League. In this context, a meeting also open to Lombard ministers is planned on 15 November.
But during the federal council we talked, above all, about the elections in Veneto. Salvini in his speech asked that all leaders focus on the need to support Stefani’s candidacy and also the candidates of the other parties in Campania and Puglia. «In Veneto it will be the operation of reuniting the League», underlines one of the ‘big names’ of the party in Via Bellerio.
Among the topics addressed also that of military spending and the need for a focus also on the Southern side of Europe, not only on the Eastern one. And above all that the funds serve the law enforcement sector and national security, as claimed several times in public by Salvini.
“Among other topics, Salvini reiterated the importance of working in the territories, adding that all the components of the party are fundamental. The council reiterated that all entities and associations that can support the League are welcome, as long as they are not an alternative political reality”, confirms the note, in a passage on the Vannacci teams. The secretary – we read – left the federal council of the League saying he was “very satisfied” with all those present.
“Anything but a showdown, the public ones are the only accounts that I and the entire League are working on,” the leader said during the meeting, according to the statement. «The League will work to ask for the maximum possible effort from the banks to increase investments in safety, with an extraordinary hiring plan for the police force, tax relief on overtime and social security support.
A crackdown on family reunification, a residence permit based on points to expel those who commit crimes and a crackdown on Islamic centers are some of the contents of a League bill on the topic of immigration”, we read. «On February 14th, the League has confirmed a demonstration in Milan to relaunch the issues of identity, security and the fight against radical Islam».
“The increase in membership in many provinces and regions was then highlighted (in Lazio for the first time the 10,000 mark will be exceeded), the entry of many local administrators (several city councilors in Palermo and Catania in the last few days only), the ability to field very strong lists in Veneto, with many local administrators running in support of Alberto Stefani who could become the youngest governor in Italy – it is claimed -. There will be city and provincial congresses in 2026 to open up the League even more to fresh forces, and there is high attention for the Rome and Milan municipal elections in 2027, with the aim of returning to winning.”
“Our objective is to continue to govern with seriousness and grow, as Italy and as the League, confirming ourselves as the second force of the center-right and surpassing the Grillini in consensus”, underlined Salvini.