From ‘No Euro’ to market regulator: Alberto Bagnai joins the AGCM board

Alberto Bagnai at the helm of the Competition Authority. And what about ANAC, the National Anti-Corruption Authority? That will be addressed tomorrow as well. Step by step, the League is trying to weather a politically difficult summer by securing key institutional appointments: today’s headline is the appointment of the Florentine MP to the AGCM board, announced by Claudio Borghi – who else? – his comrade-in-arms in countless Eurosceptic battles within the ranks of the Carroccio. “From today, we are all safer, and our country’s economic growth will have the support and judgement of a unique expert,” came the colleague’s endorsement. Salvini, too, can breathe a sigh of relief.

The choice of Bagnai for a role of this kind gives pause for thought: a university professor of economic policy, a post-Keynesian in theory, but opposed to the single currency in practice. That the author of "Il tramonto dell'euro" should become a senior official overseeing markets and competition is no trivial matter – crucial and highly topical issues are at stake, ranging from motorways to seaside resorts. Together with Borghi, he has always represented the most anti-establishment wing of the new Lega: far removed from Giorgetti’s approach, and from the pro-government and pro-European stance championed by Zaia and Fedriga. In the past, Bagnai described himself as a ‘left-wing populist’, back when he was still writing editorials for Il Fatto Quotidiano. The shift towards sovereignty was a natural evolution, culminating in 2018 when Salvini nominated him and Borghi as parliamentary candidates “against the financial elites responsible for the crisis”. In 2020, the former succeeded the latter as head of the League’s Economic Department, amid battles against the ESM and staunch opposition to Brussels, culminating in the rejection of the NRRP, which has been reiterated in recent months. Whilst Borghi is the more social-media-savvy and theatrical of the pair, the professor is more austere and low-key. And whilst Maroni played the saxophone, Bagnai holds a diploma in harpsichord. A different tune, in any case.

By joining the AGCM’s board for the next seven years, Bagnai leaves his seat in the Chamber of Deputies vacant (Abruzzo single-member constituency). And the League has secured another key position just a few days on from other high-profile appointments, including to the Higher Council of Public Works and subsidiaries of the Ferrovie group. The next target on the horizon is ANAC, which Salvini, as Minister for Infrastructure, would like to see in friendly hands following the friction under the previous chairmanship: sources within the party explain that it is still too early for speculation about potential candidates, but they are confident of finding a candidate who will be to Via Bellerio’s liking. Meanwhile, celebrations are underway for Bagnai. And given the current climate, that is no small feat.