Overview
- National leaders Giorgia Meloni, Matteo Salvini, Antonio Tajani and allies gathered at Bari’s TeatroTeam to back centre-right candidate Luigi Lobuono.
- Salvini targeted immigrants, citing those “especially Islamic,” and said anyone refusing to respect Italian culture should, in his words, “fuori dalle palle,” drawing a sharp reaction.
- Meloni invoked Pinuccio Tatarella and stressed coalition unity, urging supporters to reject the idea that the regional outcome is predetermined.
- Speakers attacked centre-left candidate Antonio Decaro and outgoing figures like Michele Emiliano, with claims of entrenched power and references to the Bari municipal probe.
- The roughly 2,000-seat venue was filled to capacity, with additional supporters watching on outdoor maxi-screens set up by organizers.