Conservative Brothers of Italy (FdI)
leader Giorgia Meloni and rightwing League leader Matteo Salvini
made peace on their respective premiership ambitions over a
buffet in the Sicilian strait city of Messina Monday night.
Roman Meloni, 45, is bidding to become Italy's first female
premier after the September 25 general election in Italy.
Milanese Salvini, 49, is also hoping to become prime minister
amid polls that show the centre right coalition heading for a
clear victory in both houses of parliament.
Salvini has said the leader who gets the most votes should be
the premiership candidate to be hopefully tapped by President
Sergio Mattarella.
At the moment FdI is polling around twice the League, at almost
25% to 12.5%, spelling a bid for premier by Meloni.
But former tough interior minister Salvini said earlier Monday
he would be "proud" to become Italy's next premier., spurring
unease in the FdI camp.
After the buffet and coffee, Salvini posted a "peace" photo
showing himself with his arms around Meloni, both smiling
broadly with the sea behind them.
"Let's leave divisions, anger and polemics to the left," tweeted
Salvini.
"United we win".
Meloni reposted the same photo and retweeted "(this is) the best
response to the inventions of the left on alleged divisions".
The third cog in the centre right machine is the centre right
Forza Italia (FI) party of three-time ex-premier and media mogul
Silvio Berlusconi, which is polling at around 7-8%.
Together, the three partes are currently projected to get around
45-47% of the vote on September 25, compared to less than 30%
for the centre left alliance led by former premier Enrico
Letta's centre left Democratic Party (PD).
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