Secretary, do you consider yourself anti-fascist? What does being anti-fascist mean to you in 2024?
«I am against all totalitarianism and dictatorships, against any type of violence and censorship: this is why I participated in one of the institutional ceremonies in Milan, honoring the memory of those who fell at the hands of Nazi-fascism. To think that fascism can return to Italy is absurd. There are some principles that must be defended at all costs: I am thinking of freedom of thought and speech, put at risk by the now absurd political correctness that goes so far as to censor fairy tales or cartoons. And I think of Israel’s right to exist, which is even questioned in some Italian universities. Well, I think that defending Israel means embodying the values of freedom of April 25 against the murderous and anti-democratic fury of Hamas. Obviously it shouldn’t be defenseless civilians who pay with their blood because of the extremists.”
Why do we continue to replicate the divisions of eighty years ago every year?
«Unfortunately, April 25th is a date that the left wants to appropriate to attack the center-right. Just think of the booing of the Jewish brigade: a disgrace.”
General Vannacci is a divisive figure. Doesn’t his candidacy for the European elections fuel the perpetuation of controversies?
«It’s called democracy. If someone legitimately decides to nominate a person who is in prison abroad on very serious charges, why shouldn’t a man who has served and defended Italy around the world, from Iraq to Afghanistan, ask Italians for their vote?”.
Don’t some of the centre-right’s attitudes justify the alarms on the left?
«Absolutely not, the left has become accustomed to using and occupying institutions for decades, from courts to entertainment, from universities to editorial offices. A bit of balance and meritocracy are only good for Italy.”
What do you consider the most important result of these 15 months of government? And what do you think the government League should do more about?
«The cutting of bureaucracy and the new procurement code, the steps forward on decisive reforms such as autonomy and direct election of the prime minister, the law on road safety, the tax cut and the 10 billion salary increase. I am ambitious and I am not satisfied: we will bring the flat tax up to 100,000 euros and we will put an end to the Fornero law within the legislature, as promised.”
Bridge over the Strait: also in consideration of the findings of the Ministries of the Environment and Culture, do you think that the construction timetable will be able to be respected?
«I will do everything to ensure that this is the case. According to estimates by the Stretto di Messina company, opening the construction sites will mean creating up to 100,000 jobs throughout Italy and bringing companies from all over the country to work».
What do you say to those who claim that the new home-saving plan is a building amnesty?
«I’m interested in the substance: in Italian municipalities, millions of cases are blocked for small irregularities inside homes, perhaps inherited. I think it is reasonable to unlock them, freeing up thousands of apartments. I underline that these are interventions only inside the houses, we are not thinking of repairing the illegal villas. Regularizing a bedroom built years earlier for the second child, a bathroom, a mezzanine or a veranda does not consume land, frees municipalities from millions of procedures and helps thousands of families to be able to buy, sell or rent a house. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
The autonomy, foreseen by the government program, will arrive in the Chamber on Monday. Did the Allies do all they could to advance reform?
«Yes, as always we have found an agreement and we are proceeding quickly. It is a concrete response to those who try to argue: we promised this reform, which is a historic battle for the League, and we are implementing it.”
Won’t exceeding the limited number of students in medicine lead to an increase in costs for universities?
It will bring more doctors to Italy, so as to avoid our hospitals looking for them abroad, as is already happening. And I would never talk about costs: the resources used to train the white coats are investments, our kids will advance based on merit, not on quizzes or luck.”
Is the League’s result in Basilicata what you expected? Hasn’t a competition with Forza Italia been triggered?
«We won with an extraordinary advantage and I am satisfied with the result of the League: I believe that all the centre-right parties can grow in view of the next European Championships».
You say: «In Europe, never with Macron». But in Basilicata and perhaps in Piedmont you are allied with Renzi and Calenda’s men. Is it that different?
«Yes and it seems clear to me: in Piedmont and Basilicata it was Renzi in Calenda who came to our positions and not the other way around. It means that the League governs the territories well, if it manages to convince other parties to join the team.”
Aren’t some of your Euro allies, especially AfD, getting a little embarrassing? Is it possible to reunite Popolari and right-wing parties of that type?
«I reiterate Silvio Berlusconi’s teaching: to win, the center-right must be open and inclusive, without vetoes. Between Macron who talks about war and Le Pen who wants peace, I have no doubts who to choose.”
Is the malaise within the League, especially the Northern one, a pure invention of the newspapers? Aren’t you afraid that the internal branch could lead to shocks?
“The newspapers have been talking about branches for years, but they are extending the life of me and the League, which governs thousands of municipalities and has the trust of millions of Italians.”
