“I have always voted Leaguebut now it was time to change, to send the young people forward”, says the pensioner who wears his eighty-four springs vigorously. Change, change: like a mantra in what, until a few days ago, was one of the small capitals of the League. Perhaps some signs had already emerged that the emerald green of the “sacred ground” of Pontida it was fading. Like when the iconic slogan “Masters in our house”imprinted on the wall that delimits the Pratonehad been overshadowed by a banner: “From independence to subjection, the militants have had enough.”
After twenty years of municipal government, the League finds itself in opposition in one of its fiefdoms. The voters poured copious votes on the civic list We live together Pontida. The new mayor took office: Davide Cantu, twenty-eight years old, degree in Historical Sciences at the University of Milan, teaching and journalism experience. “Ours – says Cantù – was a civic list without any party support. We talked with the people and the people trusted us”. And the next League meeting? The new mayor smiles: “No problem. As long as the organizers have the necessary authorizations.”
Pierguido VanalliNorthern League mayor for three legislatures, will sit on the minority benches. “In 2019 we were more doubtful of winning after five years in which he had not shone in the management of the Municipality. I preferred to fix the things that needed to be put back in order before thinking about new things”. It damaged the Northern LeagueBossi’s exit who invited Marco Reguzzoni, Forza Italia candidate, to vote at the European Championships? “They said – is Vanalli’s perplexed response – that Bossi had expressed himself that way. I even doubt that Bossi ever uttered that phrase.”
In Pontida the League found itself faced with an unexpected opponent: Roberto Castellihistorical figure of the movement, who left to found the Northern People’s Party. Francesca Losi, candidate for mayor from the People’s Party and Great North, entered the council. Vanalli abandons calm tones for the first time and adopts pungent ones: “Una political flag. Caselli chose to leave it at Pontida and found fertile ground in those who were angry with me because I was still sorting out the old “sins” left by those same people who supported Castelli today and who previously even asked for his expulsion”.
It is not a flag, but in her intentions a flag that Francesca Losi proudly waves: “We are the North. Those who voted for us voted for a federalist, autonomist and northern party. The original League no longer exists. Only we are the political future of the North. ” And he, the patriarch-leader, silent in his Gemonio? Tg3 Attilio Fontana, governor of Lombardy, issues a warning: “Let’s not joke about Bossi. No mention can be made. Bossi cannot be touched.”
