Vannacci’s predicament. Fn attempts a comeback with Trump and Putin’s diesel. But Cateno De Luca finds himself back on the streets

Now that newspaper headlines are starting to dry up, Vannaccia’s supporters are turning to Fabrizio Corona for refuge. To drum up interest, they organise a sit-in at Montecitorio, but end up vying for the square with none other than Cateno De Luca. Once again, they’re looking to Moscow for petrol – or rather, diesel. They’re still latching onto Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin: so the trade agreement between Russia and America, a blow to Ukraine, becomes ‘a lesson for Italy’. And then, as always: ‘The golden toilets’, ‘Corrupt Ukraine’, ‘No more weapons or money for Zelensky’.

At Montecitorio, on the day of Giorgia Meloni’s address ahead of the European Council, the Futurists are playing the same old tune – though lately it seems to be having less of an effect. In those notes lies the anxiety of Roberto Vannacci, the ‘reverse general’. Pollsters have begun to sense it, as have those who speak frequently with the FN leader, aware that the momentum has slowed and that new vigour is needed. His inflammatory remarks – from femicide to migrants – are having less impact. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s call has yet to come, and an increasing number within the majority are betting on the ‘withdrawal’ of the general. Meanwhile, Meloni’s attacks are reaching the Chamber of Deputies: “Turncoats,” says the Prime Minister, referring to a “very broad spectrum” ranging from Conte to Vannacci. And again: “If you don’t defend the interests of Italians, whose interests are you defending?” Marco Rizzo, the former communist who seemed ready to embrace futurism, is also capable of delivering a stinging rebuke. He makes an appearance at Palazzo Madama, wearing a sovereignist tie featuring the tricolour flag. He has recently founded a new party, Italia domani. “Vannacci? He’s on the wane; Meloni won’t take him on. And as soon as she has to draw up the candidate lists, her party will split – you’ll see,” is his prediction. “And then on Europe and the budget, he holds the same positions as Mario Draghi and Mario Monti.” General Monti? It must be the Cernobbio effect.

The day for the Futurist MPs – the ‘dirty dozen’ – begins outside Montecitorio, mid-morning. Leader Vannacci – who is renewing his swimming challenge with Renzi – is not there, but shortly before he laid down the line, repeating what he has been saying for some time: “If the Prime Minister calls me, even now, I’ll answer straight away – of course I will.” The ‘henchmen’ – La Russa, Bignami & Co – are attacking the National Front, but the Prime Minister ‘is keeping a door open’, the General is convinced, and if necessary she will seek an agreement on which, however, Vannacci assures us, there will be red lines that cannot be crossed. Meanwhile, his MPs are in the square for a sit-in. Behind the banner there are 20–25 people: “Diesel: a single lesson from the US–Russia agreement. Now it’s Italy’s turn.” This will be the day’s leitmotif. But the Sicilian Cateno De Luca (along with former M5S member Laura Castelli), leader of Sud chiama nord, arrives to spoil the party. He, too, has called a press conference in the same area. “We are the anti-Vannacci,” is the gist of his remarks. He has an agreement with the right ahead of the elections: FdI has lent a MP, Luca Sbardella, to form a parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies (which also includes the returning former Meloni supporter, Manlio Messina). De Luca has announced his party’s national conference for next week, alongside the (civic) ‘Sindaci d’Italia’ project: Ignazio La Russa will also be there to endorse this new electoral list, “and there’s a good chance Meloni might be there too”, De Luca hopes. This is not good news for Vannacci’s supporters. Edoardo Ziello, who leads Fn in the Chamber of Deputies, took the floor to oppose the government’s resolution. And after reiterating the anti-Zelensky principles, he returned to the subject of remigration: “Call Vannacci, he’ll explain it to you, rather than making deals with the Sicilian Christian Democrats”. Laura Ravetto had spoken earlier. Meloni addresses her rebuttals directly to Ravetto, landing a blow with an accusation of political opportunism: “On Ukraine, we are doing exactly what is set out in our manifesto, on the basis of which we were elected. You and all your colleagues too: I am certain that this change of position at the end of the parliamentary term is genuine and not driven by the risk of failing to be re-elected.” Replies and skirmishes followed. But in the end, this too is a victory that Fn has secured. The government’s fears regarding Vannacci seem to have subsided, but they have not yet vanished. And at the moment, the ‘reverse general’ cannot ask for much more.