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. 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:

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:

*Squires, Nick (June 1, 2018). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/01/italys-new-populist-coalition-sworn-deputy-pm-says-expelling/ Italy's new populist coalition sworn in as deputy PM says expelling migrants is a priority]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved June 1, 2018.

*Squires, Nick (June 1, 2018). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/01/italys-new-populist-coalition-sworn-deputy-pm-says-expelling/ Italy's new populist coalition sworn in as deputy PM says expelling migrants is a priority]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved June 1, 2018.

*[https://www.thelocal.it/20180601/italy-new-cabinet-in-full Here is Italy's new cabinet in full]. ''The Local''. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.

*[https://www.thelocal.it/20180601/italy-new-cabinet-in-full Here is Italy's new cabinet in full]. ''The Local''. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.

See also:

See also:

*Montgomery, Jack (June 1, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/06/01/brussels-defeated-populist-coalition-takes-office-in-italy-eurosceptic-savona-returns-as-eu-affairs-minister/ BRUSSELS BEATEN: Populist Coalition Takes Office in Italy, Eurosceptic Savona Returns as EU Affairs Minister]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 1, 2018.*D'Emilio, Frances (June 1, 2018). [https://apnews.com/15605caac2ac4963bc4d36d388067b14/Italian-populists-sworn-into-power-as-euroskeptics-cheer Populists take power in Italy, with euro-skeptic agenda]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved June 1, 2018.

*Montgomery, Jack (June 1, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/06/01/brussels-defeated-populist-coalition-takes-office-in-italy-eurosceptic-savona-returns-as-eu-affairs-minister/ BRUSSELS BEATEN: Populist Coalition Takes Office in Italy, Eurosceptic Savona Returns as EU Affairs Minister]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 1, 2018.

*D'Emilio, Frances (June 1, 2018). [https://apnews.com/15605caac2ac4963bc4d36d388067b14/Italian-populists-sworn-into-power-as-euroskeptics-cheer Populists take power in Italy, with euro-skeptic agenda]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved June 1, 2018.

*[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>

*[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==