Matteo Salvini was confirmed as secretary of the League, for the fourth time. He will remain in office for four years, until 2030. This is the outcome of the vote of the extraordinary party congress which was expressed today by secret ballot. Salvini had 465 votes in his favor, while his challenger Massimo Garavaglia stopped at 146. Accompanying the re-election of the deputy prime minister was a roar from those present at the Milanese event. Then the embrace with the challenger. "This afternoon a new journey begins. I carry with me the considerations of these months", the first words after the re-election. "In the regions where we are in the majority, I will no longer tolerate the League being treated like a second-class ally. We ask for respect for our positions", he then added. And Salvini has no doubts about the next executive: "Giorgia Meloni will return as Prime Minister and we will be the second party in the coalition".
The "Federal Italian League" is born, symbolizing the name of Salvini
Today the new symbol of the League was also presented which becomes "Federal Italian League", on a white and blue background. Salvini showed it from the stage of the congress by asking the audience: "Do you like it?". In the symbol the word "Lega" is colored blue, 'Italy' in yellow and "federal" in white. Between the three words remains the silhouette of Alberto da Giussano with his sword raised. Until today the symbol was officially "League for Salvini prime minister". Now the leader's name disappears to adapt to the new electoral law.
Garavaglia: "We need to wake up"
Today's loser is Garavaglia who, in his speech before the vote, underlined: "Why did I run? Because the objective is to reverse the trend, we must wake up". "The polls are indications, they give a direction. We got 8.8% in the elections and we didn't grow. We have to grow - he added -. I don't think a measure in the budget law is enough, we scrapped it but nothing has changed. We have to reawaken the dream and we all have to do it together". In the League, he then recalled, "we have champions that everyone envies us", citing "Zaia, Durigon, Giorgetti, obviously Matteo Salvini".
Giorgetti: "I believe in the National League but not in the Nationalist League"
Before the interventions of the two candidates, the Minister of Economy Giorgetti also spoke: "I believe in the National League but not in the nationalist League. I believe in the League of identity", his message from the stage. "One thing must be clear: without the Fighting League you cannot go into government", he then recalled, also drawing attention to the "vicious circle, when you are in government too long you atrophy, it becomes tremendously difficult to go back to fighting. We have to find the right mix".
On the first day, the political secretariat of the League was given the go-ahead
Yesterday, Saturday 24 October, on the first day of the congress, the amendment to the League's statute was approved by acclamation and show of hands which introduces a political secretariat which will be made up of a maximum of nine members appointed and revoked by the federal secretary who must be an expression of the national, regional and local levels. Another approved amendment provides for the figure of the federal coordinator of the regional secretariats, who "can participate in the work of the federal and regional Council with the right to speak - as Calderoli clarified - and monitors their behavior".
The tensions over Romeo
But the first day was also marked by the internal tensions that emerged towards Massimiliano Romeo, secretary of the Lombard League who was most exposed, together with Attilio Fontana, in asking for fresh air and an expanded team. In his speech, Senator Marco Dreosto, regional secretary of the League in Friuli, had quoted the group leader Romeo, recalling the work done together at Palazzo Madama and then landing the blow: "You cannot question a secretary for what are internal personal diatribes, transforming them into a national debate". Romeo had tried to defend himself and then counterattacked: "The problem is not within the League but it is the people outside who no longer vote for us". "No one has ever questioned the gratitude to our secretary and none of us has asked for a congress. I have never challenged anyone - he added - and I have never asked Salvini to take a step back".
