Silvia Sardone: «Matteo Salvini brought the Lega to 34%, but some forget. Pontida? No to parades»

Silvia Sardone, a Member of the European Parliament and federal deputy secretary of the Lega party, has defended party leader Matteo Salvini, attributing the party's significant rise in support to him. "Our secretary, re-elected just a year ago, brought the party from 5% to 34%, not the opposite, but this someone seems to forget...", Sardone stated, pushing back against internal criticisms regarding Salvini's leadership and the party's perceived decline in polls.

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Our secretary, re-elected just a year ago, brought the party from 5% to 34%, not the opposite, but this someone seems to forget...

Sardone urged for less internal debate and more action, particularly ahead of the upcoming Pontida rally, which she described as a crucial event for ideas and participation, not merely a "passerella" (a public display or show).

She emphasized that the Lega remains committed to its core principles, including security, combating crime, and opposing clandestine immigration, issues that have been central to the party since the era of founder Umberto Bossi. Sardone also differentiated the party's forward-looking approach from potentially divisive figures, stating, "unlike Vannacci, we look forward and not behind, as on the issue of patriarchy or femicide."

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So that's why I think this requires more deep thought than frankly cheap headlines of the type we've seen this week.

Addressing concerns that the party has abandoned traditional stances in favor of a more national focus, Sardone affirmed her long-standing support for a "Lega nazionale" (national Lega). She highlighted that key objectives like autonomy and fiscal federalism, pursued for decades, are now becoming state laws, thanks to a Lega that represents all of Italy under Salvini's leadership. She pointed to the presence of ministers like Giancarlo Giorgetti (Economy) and Roberto Calderoli (Autonomies) as evidence of the party's influence.

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unlike Vannacci, we look forward and not behind, as on the issue of patriarchy or femicide.

Sardone concluded by paraphrasing John F. Kennedy, urging party members to focus on their contributions: "Without asking - paraphrasing Kennedy - what can the Lega do for me, but what can I do for the Lega. This is the politics as I understand it."

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Without asking - paraphrasing Kennedy - what can the Lega do for me, but what can I do for the Lega. This is the politics as I understand it.