Northern League leader Matteo
Salvini said Monday that the Veneto region is the "winner" with
the party executive's unanimous selection of Governor Luca Zaia
as its candidate in upcoming elections.
That was "consistent" with League rules despite a challenge
from dissident Flavio Tosi, said Salvini, insisting his party's
Federal Council remains "solid".
At a news conference, Salvini added: "Nobody won fully, no
one lost across the board, but the movement is solid and has a
candidate in Veneto".
The party must now concentrate on winning Veneto regional
elections in the spring, he said after a strategy meeting that
also considered reported appeals for a right-wing alliance with
ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia.
There are reportedly large rifts within the Norther League
over regional leadership, particularly between Zaia and
Tosi, mayor of Verona.
Tosi has also accused Salvini of trying to destroy the
autonomy of the Veneto branch of the movement, the Liga Veneta,
and had threatened to run as an independent in the Veneto
regional campaign.
Also on the agenda was analysis of a demonstration Salvini
led in Rome on Saturday against the government of Premier Matteo
Renzi.
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