New electoral law, an alliance without the general, a gamble on the right’s majority-voting orientation and, should the bonus not be awarded, dialogue – but only after the elections. This is how the centre-right can circumvent the problem posed by Futuro Nazionale

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 general has his sights set on both Palazzo Marino and the Lombardy region, rallying a handful of former luminaries to the ranks of the far right

The traditional ruling classes and political parties are on the wane, and bullying is emerging as a political language. We’re getting ourselves into trouble again