And April 25, 2024 was Roberto Vannacci’s #day Around 4 in #the afternoon, during #the presentation #of his latest book “Controvento”, Matteo #Salvini makes #the announcement: «I am happy that a man #of value like #General #Vannacci has decided to carry #on his battles for freedom together with #the League in #the European Parliament”. It’s #the coup #from #the Northern League captain a few days after #the closing #of #the lists. With one detail: #the announcement comes #on #the #day #of #the celebration #of #the #liberation #of #Nazi-fascism A provocation? Perhaps. This is certainly #the centre-left’s interpretation.
Be that as it may, #Salvini is convinced that #the general’s entry into #the field is #the only way to reverse #the trend #of consensus. For more than a year #the League has been losing ground, no longer able to get back #on top. A far cry #from #the 34% #of #the 2019 European elections when it seemed that #the leader #of #the League had #the country in his hands. #The consequence #of this crisis #of popularity is that #the League could risk being overtaken by Forza Italia next 8-9 June. Antonio Tajani’s party is in good health, has consensus left and right, and is perceived as a reassuring force capable #of bringing together #the entire moderate world.
Which is why #Salvini clashing with half #the party who never digested #the figure #of #the #general tried to convince #Vannacci to run with #the League in all #the constituencies. Mission accomplished, moral suasion operation successful. Now it remains to be seen when he will be able to mobilize #the #General #of Discord. There are those who quantify #the General’s positive Delta at around 2%. However, #the Northern League supporters #of yesteryear will keep their distance #from #the polls. #The fact is that #the leader #of Via Bellerio claims that Vannacci’s big face could increase #the League’s percentage to bring it back above 10%. It is no mystery that #the Northern League #general staff, in particular #the governors #of #the North, have never digested #the curriculum #of someone who wrote a book, “the world upside down”, which hit #the bookstores but left controversy and divisions.
Not surprisingly, almost no one in #the party reacted positively to #the news released by #the Northern League deputy prime minister. Absolute silence. #The group leaders #of #the Chamber and Senate, Riccardo Molinari and Massimiliano Romeo, did not agree with #the decision. And this already seems significant. Nor even other leaders #of #the Salvinian rite. “Vannacci is too much, he goes against our history” is #the refrain repeated by several parliamentarians. #The only one to come out was #the Minister for Disability, Alessandra Locatelli: «Whoever has #the energy, strength and will to participate in #the European renewal project and is with us, we must carry it forward. I believe that we need people who can bring energy and votes in a historical moment in which we must go and change Europe.” For Locatelli «this is an important historical moment, where I hope that in Europe too we will put #the person back at #the centre, above all other issues. A central operation for many activities that we in Italy also want to carry forward. Less Europe, more Italy, because we have many important models that we can transmit to #the rest #of #the world.” Only late in #the evening did MP Rossano Sasso join in: «Vannacci is officially a candidate with #the League for #the European elections, in all #the electoral constituencies. He served #the State, fought terrorism and saved human lives, with one fault: having challenged single thinking and political correctness. Welcome #General and thank you Salvini.”
In this context, #the person concerned praised Salvini and made his #candidacy available: «I confirm my esteem for Minister #Salvini and I sign his declaration. I will be an independent candidate who maintains his own identity and who will fight, with courage, to affirm his values of homeland, traditions, family, sovereignty and identity which I abundantly share with #the League.”
Salvini’s announcement sparked a hornet’s nest #of controversy. Angelo Bonelli #of Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra believes that Salvini’s is a provocation: «From #the institute for #the blind in Milan, as a provocation #on #Liberation #Day #the deputy prime minister and secretary #of #the League #Salvini #announces #the #candidacy #of #General #Vannacci This decision leads a government party to adopt xenophobic programs against gays, against migrants, against environmentalists. Meloni will have to tell us if she shares #the xenophobic line #of #the League and #the slogan #of more Italy, less Europe. It is a xenophobic turning point that rewards a #general under disciplinary action initiated by Defense Minister Crosetto – adds Bonelli -. One more reason to go and vote and stop this dangerous right #from #the government #of Italy.”
The opposition, for once, appears like a moloch. «This is how you build a political career. First you self-produce a book full #of niceties, especially if written by a #general then thanks to those niceties he becomes a television character. Then along comes any #Salvini offering a place at #the top #of #the list in #the first elections scheduled #on #the calendar. I’m not judging anyone, I just want to say that #the ideas and projects #of #the United States #of Europe will be diametrically opposed to those #of #General #Vannacci and #the League” thunders #on X Davide Faraone, group leader #of Italia Viva in #the Chamber.
The words #of Riccardo Magi #of +Europa are in #the same vein: «To celebrate April 25th and #the #liberation #from military occupation by #Nazi-fascism #Salvini #announces #the #candidacy #of #Vannacci a crypto-fascist soldier who says he cannot define himself as anti-fascist because this word never appears in #the Constitution, ignoring that #the Italian Constitution it was written precisely as a reaction to Mussolini’s dictatorship and #the abyss #of #the Second World War into which it led us together with Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany.” Alessandro Zan intervenes for #the Democratic Party: «The announcement #of Vannacci’s #candidacy by #the League #on #the #day #of #Liberation #Day is a further slap #from #the right-wing government to #the memory and anti-fascist values. Proud to carry forward in this electoral campaign ideas exactly opposite to his.”
Ilaria Salis’ father is also controversial: «Yesterday I was in Strasbourg and there was a vote to condemn Hungary for its lack #of respect for civil rights, for #the way in which it administers trials. #The motion passed with 366 votes in favor and 117 against and among those votes against there were all those #of #the MEPs #of #the League and Fdi. This identifies #the fight we must do #on June 9th. We must establish whether we want to go in a direction that will lead us to still have a dictatorship like that #of Mussolini in this country or towards #the path #of light, which also evokes Monte Sole, and move towards democracy and freedom for all.”
All this doesn’t upset Salvini that perhaps everything will be at stake in #the next European elections. Could going below 8 percent lead to #the end #of your secretariat? Certainly, some Northern League members confide, “it is #the first time in which Matteo’s leadership has been seriously compromised”. #Vannacci is his last-second card to save himself. Otherwise, #the first trial against #Salvini will take place #on #the night #of June 9th. And it won’t be like #the opposition’s no-confidence motions in Parliament.
April 26, 2024
