Changes

==Biography==

==Biography==

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> While originally having communist leanings, Salvini moved politically to the Right as time went on.<ref>Binnie, Isla; Scherer, Steve (March 7, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-salvini-newsmaker/matteo-salvini-the-everyman-leader-of-italys-populist-revolt-idUSKCN1GJ2MD Matteo Salvini, the everyman leader of Italy's populist revolt]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved March 7, 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.

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> While originally having communist leanings, Salvini moved politically to the Right as time went on.<ref>Binnie, Isla; Scherer, Steve (March 7, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-salvini-newsmaker/matteo-salvini-the-everyman-leader-of-italys-populist-revolt-idUSKCN1GJ2MD Matteo Salvini, the everyman leader of Italy's populist revolt]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved March 7, 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. It performed so well that it became the dominant party in its coalition,<ref name="Success"/> and Salvini had a very real chance of becoming Italy's prime minister.<ref>Birnbaum, Michael; Pitrelli, Stefano (March 6, 2018). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/matteo-salvini-could-be-western-europes-first-far-right-leader-since-1945/2018/03/06/2d3dea36-2097-11e8-946c-9420060cb7bd_story.html Matteo Salvini could be Western Europe's first far-right leader since 1945]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved March 23, 2018.</ref>

==Political positions==

==Political positions==

Salvini also takes a strong position against mass migration and Islam,<ref>Williams, Thomas D. (January 31, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/31/italys-salvini-promises-sealed-borders-todays-islam-is-a-danger/ Italy’s Salvini Promises Sealed Borders, ‘Today’s Islam Is a Danger’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 31, 2018.</ref><ref>Tomlinson, Chris (February 28, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/02/28/italian-populist-leader-slams-pro-migrant-bishop-swear-oath-bible/ Italian Populist Leader Slams Pro-Migrant Bishop: ‘The Gospel Doesn’t Say to Welcome Everyone’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 4, 2018.</ref> and he supports strong border security actions.<ref name="MontgomeryJan2018"/> He also supports enacting [[tariffs]] on foreign products.<ref>Koukakis, Nasos (March 2, 2018). [https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/02/italys-far-right-populist-pm-candidate-loves-trumps-tariff-policy.html Not all Europeans hate Trump's tariff policy — Italy's far-right PM candidate loves it]. ''CNBC''. Retrieved March 4, 2018.</ref> A strong supporter of [[Donald Trump]], Salvini met him in 2016 while Trump was still a presidential candidate.<ref>Multiple references:

Salvini also takes a strong position against mass migration and Islam,<ref>Williams, Thomas D. (January 31, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/31/italys-salvini-promises-sealed-borders-todays-islam-is-a-danger/ Italy’s Salvini Promises Sealed Borders, ‘Today’s Islam Is a Danger’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 31, 2018.</ref><ref>Tomlinson, Chris (February 28, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/02/28/italian-populist-leader-slams-pro-migrant-bishop-swear-oath-bible/ Italian Populist Leader Slams Pro-Migrant Bishop: ‘The Gospel Doesn’t Say to Welcome Everyone’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 4, 2018.</ref> and he supports strong border security actions.<ref name="MontgomeryJan2018"/> He also supports enacting [[tariffs]] on foreign products.<ref>Koukakis, Nasos (March 2, 2018). [https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/02/italys-far-right-populist-pm-candidate-loves-trumps-tariff-policy.html Not all Europeans hate Trump's tariff policy — Italy's far-right PM candidate loves it]. ''CNBC''. Retrieved March 4, 2018.</ref> A strong supporter of [[Donald Trump]], Salvini met him in 2016 while Trump was still a presidential candidate.<ref>Multiple references:

*Bojesson, Jacob (April 26, 2016). [http://dailycaller.com/2016/04/26/trump-does-meet-and-greet-with-italian-nationalist-party-leader-mussolini-defender/ Trump Does Meet And Greet With Italian Nationalist Party Leader, Mussolini Defender]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved March 10, 2018.

*Bojesson, Jacob (April 26, 2016). [http://dailycaller.com/2016/04/26/trump-does-meet-and-greet-with-italian-nationalist-party-leader-mussolini-defender/ Trump Does Meet And Greet With Italian Nationalist Party Leader, Mussolini Defender]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved March 10, 2018.

*Williams, Thomas D. (April 26, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/04/26/trump-meets-italys-salvini-total-agreement-immigration/ Trump Meets with Italy’s Northern League Leader Salvini, ‘Total Agreement’ on Immigration]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 10, 2018.</ref>

*Williams, Thomas D. (April 26, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/04/26/trump-meets-italys-salvini-total-agreement-immigration/ Trump Meets with Italy’s Northern League Leader Salvini, ‘Total Agreement’ on Immigration]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 10, 2018.</ref> Salvini also has formed alliances with [[Marine Le Pen]] in [[France]] and [[Geert Wilders]] in the [[Netherlands]].<ref name="Success">Multiple references:

*Lyman, Eric J. (March 8, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/mar/8/matteo-salvini-pulls-italys-right-wing-fringe-part/ Unlikely leader pulls right-wing fringe party to Italy’s political power center]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved March 23, 2018.</ref><ref>Mcintosh, Jane (March 6, 2018). [http://p.dw.com/p/2tkBK Who are Italy's two leading populist parties: Five Star Movement and the League?] ''Deutsche Welle''. Retrieved March 23, 2018.</ref>

==References==

==References==