Matteo Salvini meets northern governors in Rome ahead of September Pontida rally

Summit at Camilluccia residence

League federal secretary Matteo Salvini hosted northern regional leaders at his private residence on Via della Camilluccia in Rome on 9 September 2026. The meeting brought together Governor Attilio Fontana of Lombardy, Governor Massimiliano Fedriga of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Autonomous Province of Trento President Maurizio Fugatti, and Veneto Regional Council President Luca Zaia. The discussion lasted between two and three hours, taking place alongside a two-day party convention on national budget policy organized at Officine Farneto by federal deputy secretary Claudio Durigon. While Fontana attended the public convention as a scheduled speaker, the other governors traveled directly to Salvini's residence for the private talks.

Programmatic manifesto for Pontida

Following the discussions, the party leadership and the regional chiefs issued a joint statement describing the summit as having taken place in a climate of absolute collaboration. The participants agreed to draft a programmatic manifesto over the coming days to consolidate party priorities, policy proposals, and regional governance records. This platform will be presented on 20 September 2026 at the League's annual gathering on the meadow in Pontida. Salvini addressed party members at the conclusion of the Rome conference, asserting that the party would appear unified at the upcoming rally.

“We agreed on the issues to move forward on and we all agreed to meet together on the stage at Pontida.”

Internal friction and leadership structure

The Rome meeting addressed weeks of internal debate regarding party governance, territorial priorities in northern regions, and political competition from European Parliament member Roberto Vannacci. Regional governors advocated for greater representation of northern economic interests and raised concerns over the political standing of Senate group leader and Lombardy regional secretary Massimiliano Romeo. During the private talks, Zaia and fellow governors defended Romeo against criticism from party loyalists, while Romeo himself made an appearance at the Officine Farneto conference to downplay division.

“No League is being torn apart, we are building it together, which is what we all want to do.”

Salvini responded to suggestions of formal power sharing by rejecting structural revisions to party bylaws or the creation of collegiate governing bodies. Speaking to interviewer Francesco Giorgino at the Rome conference, Salvini dismissed proposals for collective leadership bodies while affirming his mandate as federal secretary.

“The answer is yes, but without formulas that take us back to the pentapartito.”

Budget proposals and internal elections

Beyond internal organization, the summit addressed the Italian government's economic agenda ahead of the 2027 budget law. Salvini outlined proposals to cap public welfare bonuses, arguing that assistance should focus on working families in the middle class rather than applicants relying solely on baseline income criteria. Organizationally, the party leadership initiated a timetable for local votes, directing provincial congresses in Lombardy to take place by October 2026. The regional leaders indicated plans to establish an external association to advocate for northern territorial concerns alongside official party channels.