Salvini announces: “I have decided to establish a political secretariat for the Lega. We will change the logo.”

“I have chosen to establish a political secretariat for the League to share both the honours and the burdens; we will certainly update the party symbol as well, because the world is changing.” This was stated by League Secretary Matteo Salvini at the conclusion of the Federal Council meeting held in the early afternoon today in Milan, on Via Bellerio. The meeting was intended to serve as a prelude to the extraordinary Federal Congress announced by the secretary himself at the end of the Pontida event, which is due to take place on 24 and 25 October. Today’s meeting “began with a review of the current political situation”, party sources reported, and lasted around two hours.

From what has emerged, Salvini appears to have accepted the requests of the northern regional governors, who have long been calling for a more collegial approach to running the party. The secretary will leave it to the party members to decide, as will his leadership. “The Lega congress is the best time to put ideas on the table. We are proud of our roots and our past, but we live in the present and are preparing for the future,” Salvini added at the end of the summit.

“I’m expecting a good party conference; there will be delegates elected by party members from all over Italy. I’m expecting ideas and proposals; if anyone decides not to come, I feel sorry for them,” added Salvini. Responding to a question about the possibility of a secret ballot at the conference, he said: “Let’s leave secret ballots to Parliament and the mavericks; we’ve always had open voting. If there are several candidates for secretary,” he added, “the vote will obviously be secret at the ballot box and everyone will vote for the secretary of their choice; on everything else, we’ll vote in the usual way, as we always have.”