Salvini is back on the offensive against the banks but remains silent on the Lega

Either they refused him a mortgage or a banker scratched his car. His League has been cleaned out and Salvini is attacking the banks again, “let’s tax them”: “It will be our duty to ask the big banks for a contribution. The banks finance and sponsor so many things.” It’s his summer hit, just like ‘Guantanamera’. He said the same thing last year and is bringing it up again this time. It really is Ferragosto, the eclipse of all that’s good, if we have to listen, at the Versiliana, to the grim ex-pensioner, offering lessons to Vannacci, the scum of the earth: “Security cannot be achieved through round-ups.” They accuse him even though Mount Etna is in a Strombolian phase, and he complains about it: ‘They’re accusing me because Etna is erupting, but there’s little I can do about it; on the Ponte, even less.’ He continues to deny that the League is in a state of dissolution. Nothing. He avoids talking about it, and dismisses it by saying, ‘Those who think differently aren’t part of the party.’ He is discussing the possible expulsion of those who complain to the press – the Romeos, the Attilio Fontanas – and, in truth, he regrets not having done so sooner, when he could. A new development awaits him, and so does Giorgetti, the man who denied his name was Giancarlo. The regional governors intend to call on Salvini to step aside through a formal document. Whose side is Giorgetti on? Is he with Salvini, the man who’s been shown the door?

Giorgetti, the minister in charge of the finances, is at it again, whilst Salvini is off to Lucca, clattering along in his clogs, to scare Banca Intesa and Unicredit by proposing the Spanish model: “Given that money is needed, would anyone prefer a wealth tax on the current accounts of 50 million Italians or a 5 per cent levy on the billion-euro profits of Italy’s two main banks? Let’s do as Sánchez does”. Remember when it was reported that Vannacci had asked Salvini to put his aide-de-camp on the list? Back then, when it was all hugs and kisses with that scum of a general, he used to say it was all newspaper fantasy, but now he recalls: “I read that Vannacci says: ‘I’m absolutely against closed lists’. My friend, you asked me for one thing: your man at the top of the closed list, and he’s even from the area… but come on!’ He’ll end up telling us that Vannacci was even asking him for tin soldiers. In the meantime, he’s trotting out the old balalaika tune again because ‘I’m ready to make my contribution to Ukraine’s reconstruction, but I think this Russophobia is getting us nowhere’. Russophobia? Giorgetti would do well to enjoy his last few days’ holiday and give serious thought to his future with Salvini. The out-of-favour politician promises that “I’d like to raise the flat-tax threshold for VAT-registered individuals to 100,000 euros” and asks for funds: “I need seven billion for maintenance”. He is already putting his stamp on the next Budget Bill: “I envisage a provision to neutralise the Fornero reform, allowing people to retire early, ahead of the planned age of 67.” He speaks of all the Italians affected by the ‘esodo’ (early retirement crisis), not to mention his own departure as secretary of the League. Attilio Fontana, the ‘hidalgo’, will speak soon, and it will be a call to Giorgetti. After the constitution of that federalist party, attention turns to another document. Giorgetti, the minister who attended the governors’ meeting – the ‘Grand Council’ session – on 25 July, what will he choose? All eyes are now on him. All that’s needed is his signature, alongside those of Fontana, Zaia, Fedriga and Fugatti. His signature on the document is like fate weighed by the gods. If Giorgetti signs, the party’s leadership will pass to a triumvirate. It’s just like in De Andrè’s song (the one they won’t let Salvini sing). They will come to Giorgetti to ask him about his (dis)love. What will he reply? “Will you continue to let yourself be chosen / or will you finally choose?”