Showdown in the League, collection of signatures to distrust the group leader in the Senate

The League shows its muscles. Ready to do battle on the Budget (especially on pensions) and aiming for a clear discontinuity with respect to the criticisms made by the "northernists" throughout the summer. The vote of no confidence in the group leader at Palazzo Madama, Massimiliano Romeo, requested with a collection of signatures, goes in this direction.

"The senators will decide", Matteo Salvini said and most of them did. Almost all the 29 Northern League members in the Senate signed (with the obvious exclusion of Romeo, Salvini and some absentees) to ask for a step back from Romeo who, together with the Lombard governor Attilio Fontana, was most exposed in denouncing the decline in consensus and too narrow a leadership.

No surprises for Romeo. The move was in the air, now it's a reality. But the intent - some Northern League members say in a low voice - is to push him to resign early, so as not to arrive at a group meeting as a loser. Offer to which Romeo responds in spades, ready to resist. And throughout the afternoon he alternated between work in the committee and the Chamber, often alone here. And at a safe distance, from a couple of possible successors (on pole, among others there would also be Marco Dreosto and Andrea Paganella).

Moreover, the endorsement given to Massimo Garavaglia in the challenge to Salvini as secretary also weighs heavily on Romeo. Ten days ago, at the extraordinary congress, the former minister and friend of Giancarlo Giorgetti collected 24% of the votes, certifying the birth of a minority, but received Salvini's invitation to join the new team. So now Garavaglia is bitter. "I note with regret the collection of signatures - he denounces - Evidently there is no desire to unite as I thought emerged from the congress, but to split everything and widen the gap in positions".

At this point it could be more difficult for Garavaglia, who did not sign against Romeo, to enter the political secretariat. So much so that he says about the future: "This is enough for me" and adds that he hasn't heard from anyone until now. Since there is no quorum defined by the Senate regulations on the no-confidence vote in the group leader, the ball is now in the party's court. There should then be a group meeting to discuss and vote on it. The decision could be ratified at the Federal Council meeting in Milan on Friday.

At the Federal Council we will also talk about maneuver and differentiated autonomy. The dissidents, referring to the attempt to force the budget law's hand and put pressure on the Minister of Economy, also point the finger at the rotation of the budget's rapporteurs. Alberto Gusmeroli has in fact replaced the 'Giorgettiana' Silvana Comaroli, who was also speaker two years ago.

The turning point that rewards Gusmeroli, head of the party's Economy department and head of the Finance commission, provokes criticism from the opposition. "We find ourselves with a rapporteur who is not part of the Budget commission, it is an anomaly", attacks the dem deputy Cecilia Guerra in the chamber. The words of Elena Bonetti of Azione were sharper: "So Salvini commissioner Giorgetti. I find it unworthy that the president of another commissioners commission appoints them for a redde rationem in the League".