This time, the Prime Minister’s words reveal the backbone of a party aiming to secure over thirty per cent of the vote; there is a manifesto that the left is still struggling to draft; and there is a strategy that some call the ‘cannibalisation’ of allies, but which is in fact yet another gamble: the need to cover the centre, the right, and the centre-right.

The best thing that could happen to the Lega, believe us, is for Mr Di Rubba – a man who has experienced the full force of the judicial system first-hand – to remain acting secretary until the next general election. It is, so far, one of Salvini’s best moves, alongside this farcical party conference which he is even trying to make look genuine. We have to give him credit for that 

“The Congress is the best time to put ideas on the table,” said the Carroccio secretary at the end of the Federal Council meeting, ahead of the Congress on 24 and 25 October. For the occasion, given that it is an election process, he himself and the deputy secretaries Sardone, Durigon and Stefani have stepped down from their posts

The Lega’s (farce of a) congress is drawing near, and the secretary is carrying on as usual: “Anyone who doesn’t attend is making a mistake, because it will be an opportunity for proposals and discussion.”

The dates chosen by the secretary coincide with the Festival delle Regioni in Florence, where leading figures from the Lega are expected to attend. It is yet another lapse in attention

The Carroccio’s Statutes and Regulations Committee has unanimously reached agreement on the date and venue of the congress unexpectedly called by Salvini from the stage at Pontida 2026. The proposal will now be submitted to the Federal Council for approval

Meloni, Salvini, Tajani and Lupi around the table. An imaginary centre-right summit. On the table are four glasses, a jug and a sheet of paper with ‘Vannacci’ written on it.

The project is worth half the Finance Bill, but the more time passes, the more the world is going up in flames. And for some ministers, should it be rejected, “it is clear that its implementation is impossible”.

With his surprise move to call an early party conference, Salvini has thrown the regional governors into crisis. It now remains to be seen whether Claudio Durigon will manage to carve out a political niche for himself

The same delegates, “but it won’t be a sham congress. I hope someone else stands as a candidate,” the secretary said in his defence at the end of the Lega’s Federal Congress. Zaia and Fedriga were absent with valid reasons.