League, Matteo Salvini’s move: Luca Zaia deputy secretary with responsibility for the North | Libero Quotidiano.it

The Lega is ready for an internal revolution, but those who predicted – and perhaps hoped for – an early end to Matteo Salvini‘s leadership or a Lega split into a thousand pieces, will once again be disappointed. The secretary, after the traumatic farewell to Vannacci and a more than understandable period of reflection, has decided to resume political initiative and “modernize” the party’s ranks to best prepare it for the great challenge of next year’s general elections. The secretary’s first, very important, move was to sign an ironclad pact with Luca Zaia. He did so during a super-secret summit held on Wednesday. On that occasion, the federal secretary convinced the former governor of Veneto to accept the role of vice with a special mandate for the North. Zaia will take the place of Alberto Stefani, current deputy secretary, but newly elected governor of Veneto. The meeting also reportedly discussed a role for Massimiliano Fedriga (perhaps vice in place of Vannacci) and Attilio Fontana, in order to involve all the Carroccio governors. The official announcement will be made next Wednesday during the Federal Council convened in Rome. But the game is practically closed.

Read more PiazzaPulita, Mulè against Vannacci: «Woe if we let him overstep» | Libero Quotidiano.it

FAR FROM SPLITS
With this move, Salvini silences all rumors of possible disagreements with Zaia and the other governors, which had even led to hypothetical early congresses. None of this. Zaia and the others will take the field not against, but alongside Salvini to relaunch the Lega’s action in the North. To use terminology dear to the Lega members, one could say that from the “Lega of struggle and government” it will move to the “Lega of territories and government”. That is, the Carroccio must return to being the “union” of small and medium-sized enterprises, artisans, traders, and VAT-registered businesses. Just appealing to people’s gut feelings is no longer enough, also because now there is a competitor on the market who risks being more effective. We are referring to Futuro Nazionale by Roberto Vannacci, who, having no government responsibilities, can aim high. No one can really check his cards. Zaia’s task will also be to enhance the work of the many good administrators who are doing well in the territories, keeping the Lega’s flag flying high. Even in the last electoral round, most of the Lega mayors were reconfirmed, and the remaining – save for rare cases – are involved in the run-off on Sunday and Monday. Their commitment, however, needs to be better channeled, systematized, and properly disseminated. Only in this way can the Lega return to increasing its percentages in those territories that represent the beating heart of the movement, but which are also those that have suffered the most compared to the transformation of the Carroccio into a national party.

For now, Zaia will have to give up his idea of a Bavarian-style division of the Lega. A strategy deemed too risky at this delicate moment. But in Salvini’s vision, Zaia, more than anyone else, appears to be the right man for this relaunch phase. The reasons are varied. First, his strong communicative impact, highlighted – if there was any need – by the success of his podcast “Il Fienile”, capable of reaching over 90 million total views per month. Record numbers not just for a politician. In addition, Zaia is able to speak to the productive world of the North thanks to his very long experience as governor. A role he no longer holds, and precisely this freedom is among the reasons that made him preferred over those who still have regional government responsibilities. Salvini’s relaunch plan, however, does not only think of the North. And it is no coincidence that Claudio Durigon, the secretary’s strongman in Central Italy, also participated in the meeting. On Wednesday, the decision to extend the undersecretary’s coordination work to the South will also be made official. A reward for the good work done so far to give the party a stable structure in historically non-Lega areas, but also a necessity if Domenico Furgiuele were indeed to “betray” the Captain for the general. Zaia and Durigon, in short, will act like pincers on the two areas of the country. The governing Lega, namely Matteo Salvini, will be responsible for holding everything together, with the never-questioned burden of leading his party in the 2027 elections.

Read more Pina Picierno, Telese’s torpedo: «Leaves the Pd for a seat» | Libero Quotidiano.it

ECONOMIC EFFORT
The topics on the agenda drawn up by Salvini and Zaia are obviously those of differentiated autonomy, but also economic and entrepreneurial ones. In this regard, the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti was also present at the secret summit, to whom renewed trust and appreciation for the work done so far were expressed. In the strategy developed for the “new” Lega, however, all this is not enough. Salvini asked his minister for an additional effort. The gist of the speech is this: it’s good to keep accounts in order, it’s good the effort made to reduce the debt/GDP ratio from 8.1 to 3.1%; the record numbers on employment are good; but keeping accounts in order is not enough to win elections. For this reason, Salvini asked Giorgetti for a short-term plan to “refill” the pockets of Italians with real money. And if some budget balance has to be sacrificed, so be it. It will now be up to the minister to find a way to satisfy his secretary.

Read more The Pd supertax? What Schlein wants to use it for: red madness | Libero Quotidiano.it