From Urso to Calderone, via the mayors: who is at risk and who is rising within FdI (which is working on its candidate lists)

The intention is to re-nominate them all – the political ministers appointed by FdI. Although Giorgia Meloni, as the manager of a team she considers a winning one, would like to make some significant changes to the line-up. This is also to revitalise a potential Meloni II government, following more than four years (five, if the term runs its course) which have provided important insights into who has performed well and who has not. Among the ministers considered for replacement, as we have mentioned, is Orazio Schillaci, the Health Minister (though he is a non-political appointee). Meloni holds Labour Minister Marina Calderone in high regard; however, she too is a non-political appointee, and within FdI it has been pointed out that a promotion for Walter Rizzetto, chair of the Labour Committee in the Chamber of Deputies, would be legitimate. Meanwhile, discussions are already underway regarding the candidate lists.

Let’s make one thing clear straight away: it is not yet known when the election will take place – whether in the spring alongside the main city by-elections or in over a year’s time. Consequently, there is a certain degree of uncertainty even within the ruling coalition. It is known, however, that the period in government and parliamentary activity will provide a sound basis for deciding who deserves to be re-nominated and who, on the other hand, might have to step aside. The candidate lists, needless to say, are still only a draft. But at Via della Scrofa, the headquarters of Fratelli d’Italia, they have begun work on them. As for the leading figures, there is no need to comment: they will all be re-nominated en masse. Among them, as we have already reported in Il Foglio, the new development is that Arianna Meloni’s candidacy is gaining strong momentum; she has made herself available to the party (although she harbours no particular desire for the limelight). Among the ministers, figures such as Guido Crosetto, who ranks highly in the polls for voter approval, are considered an asset even in a potential future government. The same applies to his colleagues Luca Ciriani and Francesco Lollobrigida. In recent days, Il Fatto has reported on the intention of FdI’s leadership not to re-nominate Justice Minister Carlo Nordio. However, sources at Palazzo Chigi deny this scenario. After all, whilst Nordio has indeed said he is willing to ‘make way for the younger generation’, he has never suggested that he would not remain available should Meloni ask him to do so. Rather, there is a certain ambition for a change of leadership within Meloni’s parliamentary groups, particularly amongst those aspiring to take on justice portfolios (though there is no indication that the chair of the Anti-Mafia Committee, Chiara Colosimo, is scheming to move up to Via Arenula). At the Ministry of Health – and we have reported this previously – the current Under-Secretary, Marcello Gemmato, could be promoted. In addition to Rizzetto, Luigi Sbarra’s name is also being mentioned for the Ministry of Labour; he could stand as a candidate in the south, and his work as Under-Secretary has been well received.

What about Urso? The FdI leadership has not always been pleased with the work of the Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy (to put it mildly). This is another reason why, although a re-nomination – given his long-standing membership – is taken for granted, there could be a change at the Mimit. Among the names circulating within the party as potential candidates for promotion is that of Luca De Carlo, from Veneto, chair of the Senate’s Industry Committee. As for the Minister for the Sea, Nello Musumeci, however, assessments are still underway, including the possibility of his return to Sicily as a candidate for president of the region – as Meloni would like – who put forward this proposal to her allies at a meeting at Palazzo Chigi, during which the Prime Minister expressed some concern over the wait-and-see attitude of Forza Italia and its leader, Schifani. In keeping with a practice that has always been followed within Fratelli d’Italia – given the precedents set by Lollobrigida and Foti, both group leaders in the Chamber of Deputies who went on to become ministers – Galeazzo Bignami could also be included in the future government team. As for the candidate lists, however, these will also, for the most part, consist of re-nominations (after all, the FdI parliamentary group is the one within the majority with the lowest percentage of MPs who have already qualified for a life pension having served fewer parliamentary terms). Among them is Daniela Santanché, who is, however, expected to be excluded from any ministerial posts (though anything could happen). Among the potential candidates is Alessandro Tomasi, former mayor of Pistoia, currently a regional councillor in Tuscany after losing the regional election to Eugenio Giani. But above all, there is Pierluigi Biondi, mayor of L’Aquila, whose term of office expires next year and who serves as the party’s coordinator for mayors. Some might ‘make the leap’ from Gioventù Nazionale, the party’s youth wing: its president, Fabio Roscani, is already a Member of Parliament. The vice-president, Chiara La Porta, was previously a Member of Parliament but then opted to stand for election to the Tuscan Regional Council. The spokesperson, Stefano Cavedagna, is a Member of the European Parliament. Another name that might be in the running is that of the other vice-president of Gioventù Nazionale, Francesco Di Giuseppe.

One might say: these are merely hypotheses, set to be turned on their head as the election approaches. But the very fact that such considerations are being made indicates a determination not to be caught unprepared.