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While once a regionalist and left-of-center party, Lega Nord has since shifted strongly toward the right and tried to appeal to Italian voters throughout the country. Much of this shift occurred shortly before and after [[Matteo Salvini]], who led the effort to expand it from just a regional party,<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> became its leader.
While once a regionalist and left-of-center party, Lega Nord has since shifted strongly toward the right and tried to appeal to Italian voters throughout the country. Much of this shift occurred shortly before and after [[Matteo Salvini]], who led the effort to expand it from just a regional party,<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> became its leader.
The party was renamed "The League" for the 2018 general election, and it made massive gains, quadrupling its vote share. While it strongly opposes immigration, it elected the first black senator in Italian history, contrary to left-wing caricatures of it.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (March 7, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/03/07/italian-populists-elect-first-black-senator-county-history/ Right-Wing Italian Populist Is First Black Senator in Country’s History]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 7, 2018.</ref><ref>Osborne, Samuel (March 7, 2018). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-elections-black-senator-elect-lega-nord-anti-immigration-party-toni-iwobi-brescia-lombardy-a8243736.html Italy elects first black senator in history, for anti-immigration Lega party]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved March 7, 2018.</ref>
The party was renamed "The League" for the 2018 general election, and it made massive gains, quadrupling its vote share. While it strongly opposes immigration, it elected the first black senator in Italian history, contrary to left-wing caricatures of it.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (March 7, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/03/07/italian-populists-elect-first-black-senator-county-history/ Right-Wing Italian Populist Is First Black Senator in Country’s History]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 7, 2018.</ref><ref>Osborne, Samuel (March 7, 2018). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-elections-black-senator-elect-lega-nord-anti-immigration-party-toni-iwobi-brescia-lombardy-a8243736.html Italy elects first black senator in history, for anti-immigration Lega party]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved March 7, 2018.</ref>Lega performed so well that it became the dominant party in its coalition,<ref name="Success">Multiple references:
*Schumacher, Elizabeth (March 5, 2018). [http://p.dw.com/p/2ti8M Matteo Salvini: Italy's far-right success story]. ''Deutsche Welle''. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
*Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (March 5, 2018). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/05/matteo-salvini-the-italian-far-right-leader-stepping-out-of-berlusconis-shadow Matteo Salvini: far-right leader steps out of Berlusconi's shadow]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
*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> 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>
==Policies==
==Policies==
Lega Nord 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 it supports strong border security actions.<ref name="MontgomeryJan2018"/> The League 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>
Lega Nord 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 it supports strong border security actions.<ref name="MontgomeryJan2018"/> The League 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>
Under Salvini, Lega Nord has aligned itself with other like-minded parties and politicians in Europe, including the [[French National Front]] led by [[Marine Le Pen]] and [[Party for Freedom]] led by [[Geert Wilders]].<ref name="Success"/><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==