Veneto: Zaia's regional list has Salvini and Meloni shaking their heads.

The majority summit was convened to discuss regional elections, even though in reality there's only one problematic region for the right: Veneto. At the end, however, Antonio Tajani denied it and denies it: " We didn't talk about regional elections. We just took stock... It was one of many meetings." Anything is possible, but it's hard to believe that, in order to discuss everything, the main issue the majority must resolve today was set aside. And if that's the case, it only means the solution was too far off to even discuss.

The problem at hand is Luca Zaia. With his fourth re-election now impossible, it's imperative to reassign him to prevent him from causing damage in the region where he's incredibly popular. Except that no one knows where to put him: SACE rejected him, the idea of giving him a ministry is a puzzle, a Northern League minister would need to be replaced, and that's out of the question. In any case, a change of guard would put the government at risk of a cabinet reshuffle, and it's well known that Meloni would be quick to unleash a bazooka just hearing the word. The person directly involved doesn't appear at all interested, and turns up his nose even when the idea—still unverified—of handing over Eni to him is even raised. In short, everything suggests that Zaia wants to continue to have a voice, a strong and loud voice, in the Veneto region. He himself, in the past, has repeatedly stated that he's interested in local politics, not national politics.

The trouble is, in Veneto, no one is more of a burden than him. Yesterday, he himself made sure to point out this unwelcome detail: "Among millions of Venetians, I'm the only one who can't run for regional president. I can only run as a councilor." False modesty. He would, in fact, be running on a list bearing his name, which was already in the running in 2020 when, as the governor points out, it garnered around 44% of the vote. This time, things could go better, both because the Venetians weren't happy with the ouster of "their" governor, despite having already held the office not two, but three times, and because the incumbent is reportedly planning to top the list already bearing his name, and with Luca Zaia at the top of the list, the chances of an electoral surge would be high.

Among the three right-wing leaders, there isn't a single one whose very idea doesn't send shivers down their spines. All of them, though perhaps the FdI somewhat less so, would have to pay a heavy electoral toll. Furthermore, elected councilor by popular acclaim, Zaia would gain power over the future government, bordering on the possibility of a special administration and perhaps beyond. Therefore, it is essential for everyone to dissuade Zaia. But how to do so is anyone's guess. The fight over the succession to the outgoing sovereign would have occurred anyway. The inheritance is tempting for everyone, and presumably foreseeing this very situation , the prime minister had attempted at the last minute to allow Zaia's umpteenth candidacy, reopening the door to a third term. In truth, she seems to have resigned herself to leaving her Veneto stronghold to the Northern League, in exchange for a solemn commitment to hand over Lombardy to her in tricolor wrapping paper by 2028. She was farsighted.

A heated argument broke out yesterday at the summit over the candidate's name, so fierce that it was recommended to immediately put a stop to it and talk about something else. FdI Veneto insists on fielding coordinator De Carlo, victorious in a fratricidal tug-of-war that had shaken Giorgia's party in the Veneto region in recent months. Salvini refuses to listen to reason and hammers away at his candidate, where "his" means "not Zaia's ," Alberto Stefani. Forza Italia is clamoring for the unexpected victory of its competitor, former Verona mayor Tosi, from the squabble between its two major members. It's a long way off without Luca l'Oste, because naturally, Zaia also has a name in mind, a loyal one, a close follower, someone who would answer to him before the national secretary, Mario Conte.

Everything was up in the air before the summit, and everything remained unchanged after the pointless meeting. Absolutely everything, even the dates of the six regional elections scheduled for this fall. Zaia says he's "rooting" for an election day that seems obvious. That's not the case. Partly due to resistance from Campania , which doesn't want to vote on the anniversary of the earthquake, and partly for inscrutable reasons, even that decision is being postponed and continues to be postponed.

FROM

David Romoli