Renzo Bossi, candidate in proportional elections in Brescia

The federal council of the League, who, today, considered the candidacies for the regional elections, have made the candidacy, in Brescia, of Renzo Bossi, the son of the leader of the Northern League, official. The news has been confirmed by the Junior Minister for Infrastructure, Roberto Castelli, who described Renzo Bossi’s decision to stand as “courageous”.

“He is going to have to stand before the electors,” he explained, “and I think this is a courageous act for a young man that is little more than 20 years old, getting ready for the election campaign. I take my hat off to him, and I wish him luck.”

In answer to the question of whether Renzo Bossi might benefit from being the son of the League’s leader, Castelli replied, “In some cases, having a great father can be a hindrance, or it will toughen you up. In the case of Renzo, I think the latter is true.” Castelli then denied that Renzo Bossi had had special treatment in the selection of candidate for the regional elections. “I’d understand the criticism if he’d been included in the list, but he’s been hurled into the arena before the electors. He’s going to have to fight with all his might.”

The Junior Minister for Infrastructure also rejected the observation that the League itself has often opposed the candidacies of children, wives and relatives of other politicians. “In those cases, they were included in barred lists. This is not true of Umberto Bossi’s son, who will have to brave an election campaign.