“Fantasy reconstructions of me and Meloni. Vannacci on the list? I’d like to” –

“The relationship with Meloni? I hugged her because she is a friend. I no longer read the reconstructions, they are fantasy rather than political news”, blurts out Matteo Salvini. Is today’s Federal Council of the League a call to arms? “This is also part of the fantasy.” The secretary tries to get out of the corner, before the meeting of the League parliamentarian, exceptionally summoned to Rome, in the offices of the Chamber, just over 24 hours in advance. There were the less than brilliant results in Sardinia and Abruzzo and the criticism for the exit on the “sovereign people” following the plebiscite in Russia for Putin. But a press conference in the followingnoon, following the Cipess meeting, is an opportunity to distance ourselves. Salvini arrives at Montecitorio a few minutes early. You can enjoy a taste of artisanal ice cream at a tasting organized to promote Italian excellence, including ginger chocolate, seawater granita and almond paste. “You’re giving me 20 minutes of light-heartedness”, he jokes, “I won’t go into the merits of my favorite tastes, because there would be political controversy over this too. First it was in the press conference, we talked regarding billions and Anas, but who knows what was behind it the hug with Meloni? There was friendship.” He thanks, and then goes up to the group, where “I begin a beautiful and sweet meeting”.

A call to arms to see who fits in and who doesn’t? “This too is fantasy”, Salvini had minimized in the followingnoon, “it is not extraordinary advice, we convene once a month. There are 4 thousand municipalities that are going to vote in the spring, there are the European elections and we need a program. The lists they will be filed on April 30th, not tonight. Vannacci yes, Vannacci no, Vannacci maybe? He is a person I respect, with whom there is an open reasoning, we will both decide the common destiny. I would certainly be pleased.” But it’s still early, he suggests. Meanwhile, the spotlight is on Saturday’s Identity and Democracy event in Rome. The governors who will not be there “are justified absences”, replies the secretary of the League. At ‘Winds of Change’ there will instead be a mix of historical and recent allies, from the Rassemblement National (France), even if Marine Le Pen will not be there, who will send a video message, to the FPÖ (Austria), to Vlaams Belang ( Flanders) and Chega (Portugal), fresh from electoral success. A delegation from the United States will also be present, with former White House and State Department officials under the Trump administration and the intervention of Vivek Ramaswamy, American entrepreneur, former candidate in the Republican primaries and person close to the tycoon. Regarding this year’s US presidential elections, Salvini makes no secret of rooting for the Republicans, “then the people are sovereign, but I won’t say it anymore because otherwise someone will get offended”.