Politics · Italy · 1 day ago
Italian centre-right leaders differ over primaries for Milan candidate
Italy’s centre-right parties are debating how to choose their candidate for Milan.
Senate President Ignazio La Russa said the coalition should reach agreement, whether or not it holds primaries.
The League has proposed primaries in Milan, but Forza Italia’s Alessandro Sorte said that if they are used there, they should be used everywhere.
Sorte also said the League could run separately if the parties cannot agree, pointing to a past Milan election won without the League.
The League’s Milan secretary, Samuele Piscina, said unity in the coalition is not negotiable and warned that division could help the left.
The statements do not settle whether primaries will be held or whether the parties will agree on one candidate.
Italy’s right-wing coalition is debating whether to hold primaries to choose its candidate for the Milan election.
Lega has called for primaries, while Forza Italia says that if primaries are held in Milan, they should be held everywhere.
Senate President Ignazio La Russa urged the coalition to find common ground and said it should not rule out either option.
Forza Italia’s Alessandro Sorte said a Lega decision to run alone would not be a tragedy.
Lega’s Milan secretary Samuele Piscina said coalition unity was not negotiable.
- Who
- Italy’s right-wing coalition, including Lega and Forza Italia, is debating how to choose its candidate.
- What
- The parties are discussing whether to hold primaries for the Milan election.
- When
- The comments were reported on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Milan; La Russa spoke at an event in Florence.
- Why
- Lega has proposed primaries for Milan, prompting disagreement over how the coalition should select its candidate.
Lega
Forza Italia
Primaries
Lega
Lega has called for primaries in Milan.
Forza Italia
Forza Italia says that if primaries are held in Milan, they should be held everywhere.
Coalition unity
Lega
Lega says unity is not negotiable and has warned that a divided coalition risks helping the left.
Forza Italia
Sorte said that if Lega ran alone, it would not be a tragedy.
the centre-right will find common ground with or without primaries
If we were to hold primaries in Milan, clearly they would then be held everywhere.
For the Lega, the value of centre-right unity is not negotiable
La Russa said the centre-right should find common ground with or without primaries.
Forza Italia’s Alessandro Sorte said primaries should not be used only in Milan and that a Lega run alone would not be a tragedy.
Lega’s Samuele Piscina said the coalition should remain united.
- Election
- Milan
- Primaries proposal
- Lega leader Matteo Salvini proposed primaries for Milan.
- Forza Italia position
- If primaries are held in Milan, they should be held everywhere.
- Ignazio La Russa
- President of the Senate
- Alessandro Sorte
- Forza Italia’s Lombardy secretary
- Samuele Piscina
- Lega’s Milan secretary and city councillor
Sources
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