The congress of the League in Veneto is a late Soviet intrigue. And Salvini unravels it again

The rebel base had victory in hand. But close to the vote, this Saturday, everything happens: Marcato withdraws his candidacy, betrayed by friendly fire and even by Zaia. So the usual yes men will rejoice. Behind them, the hidden management of via Bellerio increasingly in a politburo version

In its own way, it is a masterpiece of Machiavellianism. For a long time the Venetian Northern League can’t stand Matteo Salvini anymore. Nor his trusted caciques, stationed to supervise the territory – that is, in Rome – without the consent of the base. Yet, in all likelihood, they will be the ones to win the next Carroccio regional council. Ale. After months of subterfuge, purges, behind-the-scenes mess-ups. The competition was strong and fierce, in the figure of Roberto Marcato, yes, champion of preferences. But on Tuesday he gave in from exhaustion, surprisingly withdrawing his candidacy. “Today a dream is killed”, explains the Councilor for Economic Development in a heartfelt press conference. “I shiver to think of a Veneto no longer led by the League. And therefore I fought to bring the party back to what it once was. But they did everything to stop me.” Until the betrayals. To friendly fire. The most incredible: Zaia’s approval – tu quoque, Luca! – to the hostile takeover bid by the Salvinians. So the bulldog ended up in a cage. And the captain was the sphagnum again.