There were rumours of imminent collapse, but Italy’s red wall held up, albeit battered and with some sections missing. With characteristic self-confidence, he expended large amounts of political capital pursuing a stunning victory over the Democratic party (PD) in its historic back yard. Instead, the League’s leader found himself targeted and outshone by a pop-up anti-populist movement, the “sardines”, whose supporters’ rallies consistently eclipsed his own in numbers and pizzazz. Having won popularity as an anti-politics movement, the party has spectacularly failed to thrive while in government. In particular, it should try to learn from the impact of the sardines movement.

Source: The Guardian January 27, 2020 18:33 UTC