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Senator Marco Dreosto, the Lega secretary in Friuli Venezia Giulia, told the Milan congress that factionalism is destroying the party and criticised Senate group leader Massimiliano Romeo.
Romeo replied that the problem lies with the people outside the League who no longer vote for it, and called the dispute political rather than personal.
Salvini resigned as federal secretary and is running against Massimo Garavaglia, who gathered 81 signatures against more than 200 for Salvini.
The 705 delegates debate the party's future at the Allianz MiCo in Milan on 24 and 25 October, with autonomy and federalism on the agenda.
Marco Dreosto, a senator who also leads the Lega in Friuli Venezia Giulia, spoke from the floor of the extraordinary congress in Milan and aimed his remarks at Massimiliano Romeo, one of the so-called dissidents of the party line. Dreosto said he offered clear, open and loyal support to Matteo Salvini, then argued that factionalism was harming the party. He pointed to Romeo, who sits in the hall as the Senate group leader, and said a party secretary should not be challenged over internal personal disputes turned into a national debate. His remarks drew applause from the room. He opened with a blunt warning:
“I believe factionalism is destroying us.”
He added that chasing criticism for the press, which the League has always opposed, weakens its credibility and its results across the territory.
Romeo replied from the same stage and pushed back against the criticism. He is the Lega's Lombardy secretary and the Senate group leader, according to La Repubblica. He said:
“The problem is not inside the League, it is the people outside who no longer vote for us.”
Romeo argued that the dispute was political rather than personal and that his camp had offered suggestions to help Salvini and the party. He asked why calling for a more collegial leadership and a wider team should be controversial. He also asked why a group of governors, who top the rankings and carry a particular appeal, could not stand alongside the party secretary.
Salvini resigned as federal secretary to answer calls for renewal, then stood for re-election. Massimo Garavaglia is his challenger, and Salvini reportedly complained that he had learned of Garavaglia's candidacy from the newspapers. Garavaglia's candidacy gathered 81 signatures, including two from Calabria, while Salvini's gathered more than 200. Il Giornale described Garavaglia as combative but without any hope of being elected federal secretary. Salvini told the delegates:
“It is right to listen and understand, then from Monday we all work together.”
Salvini also said he would finally hear at the congress the grievances he had until now only read in the press.
Some 705 delegates are debating the party's future at the Allianz MiCo in Milan, today and tomorrow, 24 and 25 October. The motto chosen for the congress is 'Di lotta e di governo', which the reports explain as continuing to shape the executive while keeping the party's identity battles. Some members fear the word 'lotta' but the explanation given is that the party will keep influencing government without giving up those fights. The agenda includes autonomy and federalism, which passed through the Council of Ministers, along with work, young people and relations with Brussels.
Salvini has said that once the congress decides, that is the path to follow. The real test comes on Monday, 26 October, when the line set in Milan has to hold together the League's different wings.
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Senator Marco Dreosto criticised Massimiliano Romeo from the congress floor, and Romeo hit back that voters outside the party have stopped backing it. Salvini, who resigned as federal secretary to stand again, faces challenger Massimo Garavaglia.
AI text based on reports by La Repubblica.it, ANSA.it and il Giornale.it. Published .