| − | Salvini was born on March 9, 1973, in Milan.<ref name="EuroParl">[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28404/MATTEO_SALVINI_cv.html Matteo Salvini]. ''European Parliament''. March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.</ref> Prior to becoming the federal secretary of Lega Nord, Salvini served in several positions, including in the Milan City Council, the Italian parliament, and the [[European Parliament]].<ref name="EuroParl"/> As Lega Nord's leader, he expanded the party's appeal outside Northern Italy, even renaming the party to "The League".<ref>Kirchgaessner, Stephanie; Tondo, Lorenzo (February 28, 2018). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/01/matteo-salvini-extends-his-far-right-appeal-as-far-as-sicily Matteo Salvini extends Northern League's appeal as far south as Sicily]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved March 4, 2018.</ref><ref>Balmer, Crispian (February 9, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-election-league/italys-league-leaves-northern-bastions-bangs-anti-migrant-drum-idUSKBN1FT1Q9 Italy's League leaves northern bastions, bangs anti-migrant drum]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.</ref> In the 2018 general election, The League made massive gains, expanding its vote share by over three times. | + | Salvini was born on March 9, 1973, in Milan.<ref name="EuroParl">[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28404/MATTEO_SALVINI_cv.html Matteo Salvini]. ''European Parliament''. March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.</ref> Prior to becoming the federal secretary of Lega Nord, Salvini served in several positions, including in the Milan City Council, the Italian parliament, and the [[European Parliament]].<ref name="EuroParl"/> As Lega Nord's leader, he expanded the party's appeal outside Northern Italy, even renaming the party to "The League".<ref>Kirchgaessner, Stephanie; Tondo, Lorenzo (February 28, 2018). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/01/matteo-salvini-extends-his-far-right-appeal-as-far-as-sicily Matteo Salvini extends Northern League's appeal as far south as Sicily]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved March 4, 2018.</ref><ref>Balmer, Crispian (February 9, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-election-league/italys-league-leaves-northern-bastions-bangs-anti-migrant-drum-idUSKBN1FT1Q9 Italy's League leaves northern bastions, bangs anti-migrant drum]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.</ref> In the 2018 general election, The League made massive gains, quadrupling its vote share. |