Italian government partner Lega splits as Vannacci leads hardline exodus

Italian lawmaker Roberto Vannacci has officially parted ways with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini’s Lega party, ending weeks of internal strife and exposing a widening fracture within the Italian right.

The decision concludes a period of significant turbulence for the governing partner. In a statement posted to X, Vannacci—a former paratrooper general—signaled the start of a new political venture, writing: “I am chasing a dream, and I will go far. National Future.”

The “National Future” (Ulusal Gelecek) project had been rumored for some time as a potential vehicle for the more hardline elements within the Lega’s right wing.

The split followed a meeting of the Lega federal council and a face-to-face discussion between Salvini and Vannacci on Monday night. The high-level meeting failed to reconcile the growing ideological distance between the Lega moderates led by Salvini and the extremist faction galvanized by Vannacci.

Vannacci had been leading a party cell that openly challenged the policies of the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, particularly its steadfast support for Ukraine.

In his departure statement, Vannacci drew a sharp ideological line, rejecting what he characterized as a “watered-down right.”

“My right wing is not like an à la carte menu… and above all, it is not moderate,” Vannacci wrote. He described his political vision as “real, consistent, nationalist, strong, proud, convincing, enthusiastic, pure, and contagious.”

Responding to the exit, Salvini posted on X: “Am I angry? No, I am disappointed and bitter.”

The message was also circulated via the party’s internal WhatsApp channels to confirm the split. The Lega leader emphasized that while other political groups had shunned Vannacci, the party had embraced him, offering significant electoral platforms and high-ranking roles.

“Belonging to a party, a community, a family, does not just mean receiving; it means working, making sacrifices, and above all, loyalty,” Salvini wrote. He added that recent months had been marred by “quarrels, problems, tension,” and early signs of secessionist movements.

The departure raises immediate questions regarding the general’s political future, particularly after the Patriots for Europe (PfE) group in the European Parliament removed him from its ranks.

In a statement shared with POLITICO by Lega officials, the PfE group noted that Vannacci’s departure from the party rendered his presence within the group incompatible with its political structure. However, the group emphasized that its cooperation with the Lega at the European level remains unchanged.

The extent of the defection remains to be seen. Observers are now closely watching several Italian lawmakers known to be close to the general, specifically Domenico Furgiuele, Rossano Sasso, and Edoardo Ziello, to see if they will follow him into his new movement.