Romeo in support of Garavaglia: “Voters want renewal; otherwise, they will no longer vote for the Lega”

Massimiliano Romeo, leader of the Lega group in the Senate, feels aligned with the “more pragmatic and more locally focused” vision of Massimo Garavaglia, a candidate at the party congress running against Matteo Salvini. “His programme refers to macro-regions in the north, centre and south and mirrors the proposals we are putting forward. Thus, at the party congress, two different approaches will be pitted against one another: a more pragmatic vision and a more ideological and patriotic one embodied by the current secretary, Salvini,” Romeo emphasised in an interview with La Repubblica.

A few days ago, the senator and former Minister for Tourism (who had announced his candidacy to Il Foglio) managed to gather the 80 signatures required to stand for the leadership of the Lega ahead of the party congress, which is to be held on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October in Milan. Among the signatories, not surprisingly, are Lombardy’s governor Attilio Fontana and Romeo himself. “I have never called for party congresses, I have never challenged Salvini, but I have called for greater collegiality and for the movement to be renewed with a slightly more federalist structure – namely, a Northern League, a Central League and a Southern League – to give greater prominence to the regions.” As for the possibility of surprises in the congress vote, he observed that “in the secrecy of the ballot box, anything can happen”.

According to Romeo, the Carroccio “must return to being a party of action, capable of speaking to small business owners, the self-employed, savers and local communities”. However, the possibility of a split should Salvini be re-elected has been ruled out. “I’ve never considered a split,” he said. “But we are undoubtedly concerned because, regardless of the polls, we listen to the voters. Outside the party, people tell us that either we renew ourselves or they won’t vote for us anymore and will choose someone else.” 

Garavaglia himself returned to the subject today. “I’ve tried several times to get hold of Matteo but he’s never replied; he’s clearly very busy with so many things… I struggle to get anything right… I don’t know, but I never hold a grudge against anyone,” the League politician told Sky Tg24, responding to those who asked whether he’d spoken to Salvini in recent days. The senator then spoke of his expectations for the party congress: “I’m already happy just to have made it there alive; I’ve come under a bit of pressure, but never mind: I’ve got broad shoulders. Often, one goes in as Pope and comes out as a cardinal. I feel more like a humble country parish priest – who knows.” As for the Minister for the Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, however, “I consulted him very little; a text message was enough. When you’re in agreement, there’s no need to even speak to each other. Then we did speak. He told me, ‘Just do whatever you want’. If I had to choose between certain ideas put forward by Borghi and those of Giorgetti,’ he continued, ‘I’d choose Giorgetti every time.’ ”

As for Garavaglia, he believes that voting at the Lega congress should take place in an open booth. “Of course it should – not least to avoid any embarrassing behind-the-scenes incidents; it is in everyone’s interest to avoid doubts or troublesome issues and controversies,” he explained. His delegates would prefer open voting booths rather than closed ones, to prevent anyone from taking a photograph and revealing who they voted for. Garavaglia then spoke about the race to collect the 80 signatures, also mentioning that Salvini’s signatures would exceed the maximum limit of 120: “Did I struggle to collect the signatures? Enormously so, for one simple reason: they had all already been collected. I had to find those few who hadn’t been asked to sign; it’s mathematically complicated, which is why there’s a limit on the number of signatures that can be collected – 120. I don’t know how many were collected. That’s another matter, but I’m not interested in stirring up controversy,” added the Carroccio senator. According to him, “there’s a problem with the Lega’s support. Can we turn things round? Yes, absolutely – that’s why I’ve embarked on this ‘lucid madness’ of putting myself forward. Because I have the privilege of being free and can do whatever I want; I’ve got no problems. Whether they nominate me or not, so be it. I’m 58 and can do a thousand other things. The beauty of it is being free.”

“The aim is to ‘grow the League by moving it away from the stereotype that it is far-right – which does not exist,’ he continued. ‘Our electorate spans the political spectrum: the self-employed, those in work and those who provide employment. A pragmatic League, which on social issues is actually further to the left than the left itself’.” And then we need “a genuine federalist push” and, finally, “sound liberal politics, both in terms of rights – such as listening to young people – and in the economy,” he concluded, “but also on end-of-life issues: let us listen to the Italian Episcopal Conference on palliative care”.