In Pontida, he announces a sham congress to be decided by a show of hands. Romeo and Fontana are now the only ones left to challenge him.

Activists cheer on the Lombardy secretary, while Lazio supporters respond by backing the secretary; a brawl breaks out. Brief speeches are delivered on stage. The day begins with a tribute to Bossi

Pontida kicks off with the young people, but it’s a sombre gathering. Salvini rejects the rebels’ demands and attacks the newspapers and bankers. Romeo: “The people will decide.” Toccalini, secretary of the Lega youth wing, steps down

A rally lasting no more than an hour is being organised. The travel expenses? The MPs are footing the bill. It will be a ‘Pontida’ rally centred on identity, with no foreigners present because the ‘punkofasci’ have, thankfully, chosen to stay at home. Nobody feels like speaking, not even Zaia, and even Giulia Bongiorno, the last to speak, is said to have suggested to the secretary that he should think about the future. The only thing uniting them is Bossi.

“We must rediscover our identity by returning to being the trade union of the region,” says the Carroccio group leader in the Senate. “The party’s grassroots are calling for renewal and a collective change of direction: to let them down would be a problem for everyone”