Former tourism minister Garavaglia collects enough signatures to run against the party leader at this weekend’s extraordinary congress in Milan.Italy's deputy premier Matteo Salvini will face a rival for the leadership of the right-wing Lega after senator Massimo Garavaglia gathered enough signatures on Wednesday to stand against him at the party’s extraordinary congress in Milan this weekend.Garavaglia, a Milan senator who served as tourism minister in Mario Draghi’s government, has received the backing of at least 80 delegates from four regions, as per party rules.The congress takes place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October. With two candidates, the vote will be by secret ballot, which is the main worry for Salvini and his allies, according to newspaper Corriere della Sera. Some delegates who did not want to voice discontent publicly could express it in the booth.Salvini has led the party since 2013 and was confirmed by acclamation at the Florence congress in April 2025. He resigned as party secretary on 12 October, along with his three deputies - ahead of the upcoming congress - and announced plans for a new party symbol. He remains deputy prime minister. Around 700 delegates will vote, 400 of them elected and 300 there by right. The signatures came mostly from Lombardia, the party’s northern heartland around Milan, which reportedly supplied more than 50. Signatories include regional president Attilio Fontana, senate group leader and Lombardia party secretary Massimiliano Romeo, and regional councillors Massimo Sertori and Claudia Terzi. About 10 signatures reportedly came from Veneto, while the rest came from Piemonte and Trentino. Garavaglia, who is considered close to economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, has presented his bid as a call for the Lega to return to its roots as a federalist party of the regions, small businesses and the self-employed. "The Lega is the Lega, it is not far right," he said when announcing his candidacy. He has described it as a symbolic candidacy, intended “to unite, not to divide”. The northern wing also favours a model inspired by Germany’s CDU-CSU, with greater autonomy for regional branches.

Italy's deputy premier Matteo Salvini will face a rival for the leadership of the right-wing Lega after senator Massimo Garavaglia gathered enough signatures on Wednesday to stand against him at the party’s extraordinary congress in Milan this weekend.

Garavaglia, a Milan senator who served as tourism minister in Mario Draghi’s government, has received the backing of at least 80 delegates from four regions, as per party rules.

The congress takes place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October. With two candidates, the vote will be by secret ballot, which is the main worry for Salvini and his allies, according to newspaper Corriere della Sera. Some delegates who did not want to voice discontent publicly could express it in the booth. Salvini has led the party since 2013 and was confirmed by acclamation at the Florence congress in April 2025. He on 12 October, along with his three deputies - ahead of the upcoming congress - and announced plans for a new party symbol. He remains deputy prime minister. Around 700 delegates will vote, 400 of them elected and 300 there by right. The signatures came mostly from Lombardia, the party’s northern heartland around Milan, which reportedly supplied more than 50. Signatories include regional president Attilio Fontana, senate group leader and Lombardia party secretary Massimiliano Romeo, and regional councillors Massimo Sertori and Claudia Terzi. About 10 signatures reportedly came from Veneto, while the rest came from Piemonte and Trentino. Garavaglia, who is considered close to economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, has presented his bid as a call for the Lega to return to its roots as a federalist party of the regions, small businesses and the self-employed. "The Lega is the Lega, it is not far right," he said when announcing his candidacy. He has described it as a symbolic candidacy, intended “to unite, not to divide”. The northern wing also favours a model inspired by Germany’s CDU-CSU, with greater autonomy for regional branches.