Venetian heavyweight Luca Zaia spells trouble for Salvini and the League

Luca Zaia, the long-serving president of Veneto, is reshaping his political future—and causing unease within his own party. Known for his pragmatic leadership and regional focus, Zaia now eyes a possible run for mayor of Venice next May. His next steps could challenge the League’s unity under Matteo Salvini, who sees him as both an asset and a potential threat.

Zaia’s popularity in Veneto stems from his handling of the Covid crisis, his preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and his role in boosting Prosecco exports. Yet his vision for northern autonomy and moderate stance on issues like immigration and climate change set him apart from the League’s harder line under Salvini.

Born and raised in a small village near Treviso, Zaia worked his way through university by organising club nights in local discos. His down-to-earth background has helped cement his image as a leader in touch with ordinary Venetians. Unlike Salvini, he avoids fiery rhetoric, focusing instead on regional interests and practical governance.

His differences with the League’s national leadership extend beyond style. Zaia openly advocates for greater autonomy from Rome, a position that clashes with Salvini’s centralised approach. On immigration, climate policy, and LGBTQ+ rights, he takes a more measured stance, further distancing himself from the party’s far-right base. Recently, he criticised Salvini’s deputy, General Roberto Vannacci, over controversial remarks glorifying Mussolini’s fascist regime—though he stopped short of directly attacking Salvini himself. Zaia’s political manoeuvring has not gone unnoticed. Salvini, wary of internal dissent, has floated Zaia’s name for a parliamentary seat in Rome or even as Venice’s next mayor—a move seen as an attempt to keep him occupied and prevent him from becoming a rival. Meanwhile, a breakaway faction within the League, backed by the party’s founder Umberto Bossi, has formed the Pact for the North. They have made clear they would welcome Zaia ‘with open arms’ if he chose to leave. Looking ahead, Zaia has suggested restructuring the League along the lines of Germany’s CDU-CSU model, with separate sister parties for Italy’s north and south. He is widely expected to run for Venice’s mayoralty in May, campaigning on a platform of autonomy for the city as a semi-independent state with special powers. Political observers note that while Zaia is unlikely to seek the League’s national leadership, he would be the natural choice to head a northern faction if the party splits. His plans extend beyond 2025. After his term as Veneto’s president ends, Zaia is rumoured to be considering a bid for Italy’s premiership under the League’s banner. Such a move would mark a dramatic shift in his career, from regional leader to national contender—though it remains unclear whether the party’s base would fully back him.

Zaia’s next political steps will test the League’s cohesion and Salvini’s grip on power. If he runs for mayor of Venice, his push for city-state autonomy could redefine local governance. Should he eventually seek the premiership, his moderate policies and regional focus would set him apart from the League’s traditional platform.

For now, his growing influence leaves Salvini with a dilemma: either accommodate Zaia’s ambitions or risk driving him—and his supporters—toward a rival faction.