# Internal leadership crisis in Italy’s Lega party

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/internal-leadership-crisis-in-italys-lega-party
> Updated: 2026-08-10T16:53:12.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 2.

The Italian Lega party continues to face a leadership crisis marked by internal divisions and declining electoral support. Tensions previously emerged when regional leader Luca Zaia skipped a party event in Cervia, an absence interpreted as a sign of discord with national leader Matteo Salvini.

This friction has escalated into a formal revolt by party officials in Lombardy. During a meeting in Milan, several local leaders, including Daniele Belotti, called for Salvini’s resignation, citing a loss of credibility as polling suggests the party’s support has dropped from 34% in 2019 to approximately 5%. While immediate confrontation was previously deferred, the pressure on Salvini remains significant as Lombardy-based officials maintain their calls for his departure.

## Claims

- A social listening report analyzed sentiment for progressive leaders between July 11 and August 10, 2026. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Giuseppe Conte holds a 32.2% positive sentiment rating on social media. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Elly Schlein has a 27.6% positive sentiment rating. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Silvia Salis holds a 25.7% positive sentiment rating. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Giuseppe Conte led social media interactions with 2,225,000 recorded interactions. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- At least twenty out of thirty participants at a recent Lega meeting in Milan expressed criticism toward Salvini. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Angelo Bonelli expressed irritation regarding the leadership race within the center-left coalition. (single source)
- Daniele Belotti called for the resignation of Matteo Salvini, citing a loss of credibility. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-10: Italian political leaders face shifting popularity and internal coalition tensions

Social media data shows Giuseppe Conte leading Italian progressive sentiment over Elly Schlein, while internal tensions rise in both the center-left coalition and the Lega party regarding leadership.

18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/salvini-faces-calls-for-resignation-from-lega-leaders-in-lombardy

### 2026-08-03: Lega faces internal split as Luca Zaia skips party event

Lega’s internal rift deepens as Luca Zaia skips a Cervia event, sparking speculation of a split amid falling poll numbers for Matteo Salvini.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lega-faces-internal-split-as-luca-zaia-skips-party-event

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Cite as: Internal leadership crisis in Italy’s Lega party. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/internal-leadership-crisis-in-italys-lega-party