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==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. 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>

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> Ultimately, Salvini became Italy's interior minister – giving him control over the country's immigration policy – as well as its deputy prime minister under a coalition government with the anti-establishment [[Five Star Movement]].<ref>Multiple references:

*[https://www.thelocal.it/20180601/italy-prepares-to-swear-in-first-fully-populist-government Italy swears in first fully populist government]. ''The Local''. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.</ref>

==Political positions==

==Political positions==