Lega's Future in Doubt: Zaia's Conditions and Party Suspicions

A power struggle is brewing within Italy's Lega party as regional leader Luca Zaia reportedly lays down conditions for his involvement in its future direction. The core of the dispute centers on the party's structure and its prospects for the 2027 general election.

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Because, as Zaia said in a recent interview, political forces «starting with ours, will sooner or later have to make the choice of internal federalism».

Sources suggest that Lega secretary Matteo Salvini is seeking to involve prominent regional leaders, including Zaia, in the upcoming election campaign. Salvini reportedly offered Zaia the vice-secretary position again, but with the idea of eliminating other deputies, save for Claudio Durigon. Zaia, however, appears uninterested in the proposed role and is instead pushing for significant internal reform.

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For Matteo it would be a de facto commissariamento.

Zaia's primary condition is a change to the Lega's statute through a congress that would focus on setting the party's program rather than electing officials. He advocates for a deeper transformation, drawing a parallel to the German model of a national party (like the CDU) with a strong regional counterpart (like the CSU in Bavaria). This vision suggests a desire for greater autonomy for northern regions within the party and a potential bulwark against the rise of figures like Roberto Vannacci.

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I avoid commenting on virtual reality and diverting from real life.

However, staunch supporters of Salvini are reportedly skeptical of Zaia's intentions, viewing his potential involvement as a "de facto commissariamento" or takeover. Concerns are also mounting about the party's electoral prospects under the current electoral law, which bases coalition lists on poll performance, and recent surveys have been unencouraging. Salvini himself has dismissed the reports, calling them "virtual reality" and a distraction from real-world issues.

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If I had stopped with journalists, they would have asked me for comments on unfounded articles for which I have to give explanations that lead us to waste time.