(ANSA) - Verona, March 24 - Veneto governor Luca Zaia of the
anti-euro and anti-immigrant Northern League on Tuesday endorsed
a possible double role for party secretary Matteo Salvini as
future mayor of Milan after the populist leader announced his
readiness to stand in 2016 municipal polls.
Salvini "can be mayor of Milan and secretary of the League.
The decision is down to him, but in the meantime the results
bear him out: he has led the League from 3% to 15%," Zaia said.
Earlier Salvini said he was "available if the Milanese so
wished".
"The surveys show that the League's projects are well
received. In Milan there is the desire to start afresh after
four years of Pisapia," he added.
On Sunday incumbent Milan mayor Giuliano Pisapia of the
leftwing Left Ecology Freedom party said he would not be running
for a second term in 2016, paving the way for discussions on
both sides of the political spectrum about who might replace him
as mayor of the Lombardy capital.
Lombardy, like neighbouring Veneto, is governed by the
Northern League.
League secretary can also be Milan mayor, Veneto chief says
Salvini says he is 'available if Milanese so want'