“Salvini? A walking piece of fake news. If the electoral law isn’t passed, there’s a serious risk that Meloni will team up with Vannacci and drop Tajani. Vannacci stands to become deputy prime minister,” says the leader of Italia Viva

The former Minister for Economic Development told Il Foglio: “Elly Schlein and Ukraine? We have a very clear view: Einstein said that stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again whilst hoping for a different result. Renzi doesn’t win votes, and if you call him ‘unreliable’, you’re giving him power. Delmastro? Either they have something to hide, or they want to attack the judiciary.”

The leader of Italia Viva and the general have been trading barbs and jibes on social media for days. A rivalry played out with gloved fists, between sprints and strokes in the water. But they’re lucky that Beppe Grillo isn’t competing against them. The Under-Secretary for Relations with Parliament, swimmer and president of the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN), Barelli, told "Il Foglio": “My federation will provide lifeguards free of charge, because I really do fear there will be a need for them.”

The leader of Italia Viva is meeting with his party members at Villa Borghese. “Meloni has lost the trust of the public with the referendum and that of the political establishment with her voting preferences.” And he responds to the attacks from the Five Star Movement: “Me, unreliable? On what grounds are they speaking? If anyone wants to talk about the past, we’re ready. It wasn’t us who sent Salvini to the Ministry of the Interior.”