The Lega claims it wants to hold the vote at a leisurely pace, in September. Forza Italia says the same, though it is unclear whether they are bluffing. Meloni has instructed her MPs to act as if the vote were to take place in the spring, and she genuinely believes this will be the case. However, there are certain laws that can help us understand the political landscape over the coming months

At one time, the Prime Minister considered this option taboo. Her advisers, however, showed her a different side of the story