Carmelo Burgio from Vannaccio is making his mark in Milan

A van carrying around ten uniformed police officers and as many in plain clothes on the street highlights the risks involved in the meeting with the Vannacciano candidate for mayor of Milan. Nothing will happen; not even a shadow of a protester will be seen – and that is no small thing when you consider what is happening in France and Spain. The Hotel dei Cavalieri, chosen to present Carmelo Burgio’s manifesto, is a four-star hotel situated a stone’s throw from Piazza Duomo – the ideal venue to host a cross-section of the Milanese middle classes keen to find out who this retired Carabinieri general is, who has been out of service for four years, speaks with a Roman accent and wants to succeed Sala. The turnout is good; in no time at all the hall fills up with middle-aged people as well as young people, and it is not uncommon to spot tricolour pins on the lapels of their jackets.

Suddenly, Sylvie Lubamba makes her entrance and stands out, partly thanks to a striking red dress that contrasts with the prevailing dark blue: she is one of Vannacci’s earliest supporters and the spokesperson for Futuro Nazionale’s citizens’ committees. Here and there are former members of the Lega and people from the right, such as Luciano Buonocore, who was one of the promoters of the ‘Silent Majority’ in the early 1970s: “We are in a post-ideological and post-democratic era,” he argues, “and power has shifted to technocratic figures. Vannacci? I believe he can attract the reactionary right; he’ll annoy everyone, left and right alike.” With him is the surgeon Rocco Maruotti, who explains his presence by citing “Italy’s need for a right-wing force”. In his view, the party that constitutes the largest national party and leads the government is governing with the handbrake on: “It cannot do what it would like to do.” Another representative of civil society is Paolo Bocedi, founder and president of the anti-racketeering and anti-usury association ‘SOS Italia Libera’, who was greeted with loud applause.  

There is no shortage of politicians; many hold positions within institutions, such as Luca Ferrazzi, Lombardy coordinator and regional councillor (there are three of them at the Pirellone, and they have formed a group). Take Luca Bernardo, for example, who sits at Palazzo Marino and was one of the biggest surprises among Futuro Nazionale’s new recruits: a paediatrician and mayoral candidate for the centre-right in 2021, he has joined the new movement, leaving Forza Italia behind. Laura Ravetto has followed a more turbulent path: a Member of Parliament for 20 years, first with Forza Italia, then with the Lega, and subsequently with Vannacci; she was present yesterday and received a warm round of applause. Massimiliano Bastoni has taken the opposite route: formerly a Lega member close to Borghezio, then with Forza Italia, and now the General’s right-hand man beneath the spires; if the convention was a success, it is largely down to him. The latest arrival, announced right at the start of the meeting, is Pierfrancesco Gamba, a long-standing member of the MSI and AN, with whom he served as an MP three times, always remaining very close to La Russa.  

The evening’s programme included the launch of the book "Guerra alla Camorra" and the election manifesto – a rather heavy programme for a meeting that started a little late. Burgio focused on security, making it clear that this issue will be his key campaign theme. He began with an anecdote that clearly illustrates his sense of the rule of law: whilst working in Caserta, he came across some colleagues who were acting outside the law and contrary to the ethics of the force. He was advised to find a solution that would avoid a scandal, but he preferred to investigate until they were dismissed, despite the personal cost of this clean-up operation. If he showed no leniency towards his fellow officers, he is even less likely to do so with those who are making Milan impervious to the law; he already has experience from his time at the DIA during Expo, where he dealt with businesses of dubious repute. But the real issue is the safety of the individual citizen – that which is perceived, certainly not that reflected in the statistics claiming a fall in crime. To ensure this, the IA and drones provide vital support. On immigration, too, the key is rigour: a welcome to those who wish to work and integrate; out with those who commit crimes. 

Towards the end of the evening, he also spoke on other issues, such as the high cost of housing, which is a particularly pressing concern in Milan: “I want to focus on the suburbs, not the city centre, by boosting social housing and putting a stop to the construction of flats costing 10,000 euros per square metre. In the short term, I’m thinking of a solution involving relocation to towns near the city, as happened with Anzio, where many Romans have moved to. Of course, transport links need to be improved, but it can be done.” He also touched on his political stance; Burgio refuses to be labelled an extremist: “I’m on the right but I’m not a fascist, and certainly not a ‘Bava Beccaris’, as Il Foglio wrote. Will Vannacci strike a deal with Meloni? I don’t know, but if it’s good for the right, I’ll accept it.”