In the European elections "I am convinced that we will reach at least double figures" with the aim "of overtaking the M5s in the medium term".
The leader of the Northern League Matteo Salvini squares up with young militants during an event in Milan with the evocative title 'Politically rebels, like Europe doesn't want us' and makes it known that on April 25th he will be in the streets with them.
"Maybe in the land of the Lion - he comments -. If thousands of young people from the League gather to defend the freedom put at risk by the bureaucrats of the European Union it will be a beautiful signal. They will ask us if we are anti-fascists: yes, there are no more Hitlers, Mussolini and Stalin. Today's battles are for freedom, such as being able to work."
And precisely in view of the European elections, Salvini launches a warning to his allies: "If someone from the centre-right prefers the seat, political correctness and the mess with the socialists over a united centre-right - he explains - he will not spite Salvini or the League , but it will harm Italy. Between Macron and Le Pen I always choose Le Pen."
The alliance is not creaking, however, he assures: "I announce it for the spies and for some lieutenants of the Guardia di Finanza, the united center-right will govern the country for five years, not a minute less".
But he warns voters: "It's not the same thing to vote for FdI or Forza Italia: voting for the League is a single vote."
From the stage he does not mention the internal criticism for the latest electoral results, but says that "when you fall you have to have the strength to get up" just as "when you lose the elections you have to understand where you went wrong to win the next ones" without feeling sorry for yourself.
"To think that Europe's disasters can be remedied by Von der Leyen, co-protagonist of these disasters - he continues - is like telling someone who has diabetes 'eat cotton candy, it's good for you'... It can't be the system that created the problem to solve it, is evident."
Words that arrive on the eve of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's trip to Egypt together with the President of the European Commission: "What has Europe done in recent years against illegal immigration? Damn the Italians - the leader raises his game of the League -. The government of Malta, the French government, the German government are looking the other way, and who should become the European refugee camp? It's one thing to be in solidarity, it's another to be seen as idiots."
But the fear of ending up isolated after the elections is well founded, so much so that for Salvini on 8 and 9 June "either you win or it's a problem".
"We can create autonomy, infrastructure and bring down the spread - he observes - but 90% of the decisions come from Brussels.
And still on the subject of discontent within the party, Salvini belittles the thesis of those who think that the European elections will be a test for his leadership: "For journalists, my future is at stake on 8 and 9 June. Monday 10 June Salvini will wake up as usual and then there will be Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th."
All seasoned with a reference to the origins: "I thank Bossi and Maroni, if someone hadn't left before me today I would be at the cinema or on the beach. And I'm happy, because being secretary of the League is an exceptional experience".
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