Meloni and austerity. She stands by Giorgetti (who thanks her); she is tired of giving “blood and appointments” to Salvini

At Fieracavalli in Verona, a composed Salvini and Meloni. He is with the Minister for the Economy. Giorgetti’s austerity? “If he’s an austerity advocate, so am I.” The cyber-attacks? “They must be a cause for concern.” If, as in France, fridges storing plasma are attacked, Meloni asks, is protecting them “a healthcare expense or a defence expense?” As for the timing of the vote, she retorted, “You’re obsessed with this. You can’t wait to get rid of me.” She expressed her eagerness to have Giorgetti join FdI (who thanked her), while Salvini, according to her, is eager to distance himself from Giorgetti as if he were a hernia.

Meloni ‘gives him her all’, ‘hands him posts’, even at the risk of legal challenges, as in the case of Trifone Altieri at ANAC, but this is not enough for Salvini. Whilst Meloni visits Milan and Verona (forced to respond to questions about Altieri’s appointment: “It was within our remit to do so”), Salvini embraces Orbán and appoints Andrea Crippa, coordinator of the secretariat, at the Lega’s Federal Council. This was the role originally intended for Zaia and Fedriga, both of whom were absent from the meeting. It is Salvini’s first major decision since the Congress; the others are out of necessity. Alberto Di Rubba is confirmed as treasurer, and a vote is held on the party symbol (they had forgotten to do so during the Congress). Max Romeo remains secretary of the Lombardy League, whilst his fate as Senate group leader will be decided on 17 November. This is the date Romeo himself has chosen to face a vote of no confidence. By Salvini’s decision, all provincial congresses are suspended whilst the one in Varese – the city of Giorgetti, the minister whom Meloni defends with this statement: “I don’t think he’s a hardliner, but if he is a hardliner, then so am I”. This statement is intended to put an end to the disjointed attacks on Giorgetti, ‘La Ragioniera’ and Daria Perrotta – loose ends that could threaten the stability of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Giorgetti has been away from Rome for a week now, and Meloni is fully informed. She knows that attacking him at this time would be despicable. Giorgetti has reiterated to her that he will remain minister as long as “I know my position is shared by my president”, and Meloni has confirmed to him that “on economic matters, your position is mine”.

When it is written – as Il Foglio has occasionally reported – that Meloni would like Giorgetti to join FdI, this is not meant ironically. On several occasions, using the sort of phrases one utters when in good spirits and happy, Fratelli d’Italia has asked Giorgetti to give it some thought. Fazzolari would be the first to want him on board, but he is also the first to understand the sentiment behind the phrase, that “the Lega is my home”. They say that Giorgetti thanked Meloni, not so much because he needed defending but for the small sign of support she gave him. The sign that there is still a measured, credible right wing, not one drifting towards the Hungarian model. If, in recent days, people are still writing, again and again, about the Lega, it is not out of any passion for its wavering and vacillating souls. They write because the Lega’s turmoil is having repercussions on the alliance. To maintain harmony, Meloni has handed the ANAC over to a Lega member, Trifone Altieri, who has already come under fire from the opposition and may be unsuitable for the role – this Altieri, who is reminiscent of the Lega, “started out very young in the office of Sergio Mattarella, the Minister of Defence”. How can a party grow when its ambition is to send people into early retirement – a party that was founded to defend small workshops and factories? It is true that Berlusconi promised dentures, but he did not make denture adhesive his rallying cry, as this Lega is doing, having made pensions its defining feature. In the business world, they are called “golden parachutes”. There seems to be no end to the “golden parachutes” – the pensions that Meloni is granting to Salvini. Bagnai at the Antitrust Authority, Centemero (a well-deserved appointment) at Consob, and MP Carloni has been appointed to the Adriatic Sea Port Authority (and has resigned as an MP).

For the record, it is worth mentioning another prominent League member and key figure of our times: the President of Rai, Antonio Marano. He was appointed President of Federciclhub in May, and not a single former member of the Supervisory Board (dear Angelo Bonelli, that is a matter for you) ever asked: is Marano compatible with the role of Rai President? Is the federation not linked to Federciclismo, which negotiates rights with Rai? These are questions. Immediately after Meloni’s comments on Giorgetti, Salvini replied “that he will assess the arms package and then decide whether to vote”. He was referring to the arms package for Kyiv expected at Copasir. Salvini has been a problem for years, but now he represents something more—and not just because of these pointless stunts. He is a problem for the coalition because it still has League members to place, and there are very few top spots on the electoral lists. The sub-government posts have run out, and the only option left is to expand the constituencies. This is an impractical measure, both in terms of timing and the controversy it risks generating. Salvini says he has spoken to Giorgetti and found the money; he also says that “relations with Giorgetti are excellent and that we are discussing international scenarios”. At the Ministry of Economy and Finance, no one knows where he found it; no one can explain to him that the ‘South Calls North’ operation is merely an exercise by FdI to pave the way for the creation of ‘North Calls South’. He has found the money. Perhaps he rang the doorbell of one of the Three Wise Men.