Lombardy Governor Roberto Maroni
reiterated Tuesday he was not seeking re-election in March 4
elections and was not going to stand for any other position,
other than seeking "a new life", after speculation he could be a
centre-right premier candidate.
Maroni said "I didn't ask for anything and I'm not looking
for anything," reiterating that he was standing down "for
personal reasons".
The only deal Maroni has with Silvio Berlusconi is to become
president of his former soccer club, AC Milan, the Lombardy
governor said of the three-time ex-premier, centre-right leader
and billionaire media magnate.
"I've heard of this secret deal supposedly between me and
Berlusconi," said Maroni, who said yesterday he will not seek
re-election on March 4.
"I confirm it, not to be premier, but to be the president of
Milan if he buys it back".
AS for the choice to be centre-right governor candidate,
between former Varese mayor Attilio Fontana of Maroni's League
and former education minister Mariastella gelmini of Forza
Italia, Maroni said he was "rooting got Fontana".
But he said the important thing was "to choose quickly".
Berlusconi said earlier Tuesday the centre right was awaiting
the results of polls showing how each candidate would perform
against centre-left Democratic Party candidate Giorgio Gori, the
mayor of Bergamo.
Maroni was speaking after a meeting on autonomy at the
regional affairs ministry.
Earlier Tuesday Berlusconi, leader of the centre-right Forza
Italia (FI) party, ruled out the possibility that Maroni will be
part of the new national government if the centre right wins
March's general election.
Maroni announced Monday that he would not be standing for
re-election in the northern region, which also votes for a new
regional assembly on March 4.
Matteo Salvini, the leader of Maroni's League party, echoed
that line.
"If you leave your post on the Lombardy region, which is
worth more than many ministries, obviously you can't do anything
else in politics," he said.
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