“Anything that brings more votes to the League and is consistent with the party’s programs is fine with me.” In inaugurating his electoral campaign in view of the European elections, Giovanni Malanchini tries to extinguish the controversy who during the last few weeks in Bergamo accompanied the possible candidacy of Roberto Vannacci. A name, that of the general, made official yesterday by Matteo Salvini during the presentation of his book «Controvento», first in Milan and then at the party party in Grumello del Monte. A name which, however, in recent weeks from the Bergamo area, many historic leaders and militants had contested.
Salvini, however, shows up in Grumello sending optimistic signals to the local Northern League supporters, focusing on the theme of autonomy: «The history of the League is incredibly coherent. It left Bergamo asking for autonomy and after 40 years we are bringing it home. It is the beginning of a journey, because the most developed and modern countries in the world are federal countries. I hope that the province of Bergamo fills Giovanni Malanchini with tens of thousands of votes. I expect a lot from Bergamo”, says the federal secretary of the League, also launching the campaign of the Bergamo mayoral candidates. Among which Andrea Pezzotta, running in Bergamo, sitting at the table to the right of the deputy prime minister. «I’m not from the League – says Pezzotta –, but I feel and am convinced that I am among friends». And Salvini talks about the city, hoping for the victory of the criminal lawyer and attacking the centre-left council for the Zone 30 and the ZTL: “We cannot continue to have a left that governs the city and only favors the wealthy inhabitants.” But the European elections are the most important challenge, a referendum for Salvini, to give a turning point to the EU: «I ask – says the minister – to defend the borders and stop the clandestine Islamic invasion which is the great danger for our children» .
The objective in Bergamo for the League is to be the first party, and the provincial secretary Fabrizio Sala look at the European projection: «Europe has destroyed our social fabric, if we want to change the only party to vote for is the League». And he sends a message to the allies: “Consistency is something that always pays off.”
Giovanni Malanchini says he is proud to be able to compete in the European Championships representing the League after 20 years of militancy. «I am satisfied that the provincial and regional secretariat and Matteo Salvini have asked me for this commitment. It’s an experience that was unexpected in some ways until last year.” As for his “service” candidacy, Malanchini points out: “It will be such if I manage to obtain a great result for myself and for the League. My aim is to collect more votes than even my internal competitors.” To bring to Europe some of the battles he faced first as mayor and then in the Region. In order: the defense of plastic in Lombardy’s circular economy processes: «The European Parliament has approved a regulation that limits the use of packaging, but here thanks to separate waste collection it is a resource. Fratelli d’Italia and Forza Italia, as well as the centre-left, also voted for the measure. Only the League opposed it.” The defense of local authorities: «The Committee of the Regions and the subjects representing local authorities are systematically bypassed by the central bodies of the EU, imposing inapplicable directives and regulations on the territory». Finally, what for Giovanni Malanchini is the “topic of topics”, i.e. agriculture, connected to traceability and the fight against synthetic foods: “Strong action is needed against the common agricultural policy. It rewards those who don’t produce, but in Lombardy and Italy we are not self-sufficient with agri-food production.”
