Matteo Salvini
Matteo Salvini (born March 9, 1973[1]) is an Italian politician who serves as the leader of Lega Nord. Salvini holds strong conservative and right-wing populist views.
Biography
Salvini was born on March 9, 1973, in Milan.[1] While originally having communist leanings, Salvini moved politically to the Right as time went on.[2] 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.[1] As Lega Nord's leader, he expanded the party's appeal outside Northern Italy, even renaming the party to "The League".[3][4]
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,[5] and Salvini had a very real chance of becoming Italy's prime minister.[6] 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.[7]
Salvini immediately went to work advancing his conservative immigration agenda as Italy's interior minister, visiting an immigration camp in Sicily soon after being sworn in.[8]
Political positions
Salvini is a Euroskeptic[9] who also supports leaving the Euro.[10] He supports putting the Italian people first when making policy, as opposed to advancing globalist ideals.[11]
Salvini also takes a strong position against mass migration and Islam,[12][13] and he supports strong border security actions.[10] He also supports enacting tariffs on foreign products.[14] A strong supporter of Donald Trump, Salvini met him in 2016 while Trump was still a presidential candidate.[15] Salvini also has formed alliances with Marine Le Pen in France and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands.[5][16]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Matteo Salvini. European Parliament. March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ↑ Binnie, Isla; Scherer, Steve (March 7, 2018). Matteo Salvini, the everyman leader of Italy's populist revolt. Reuters. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ↑ Kirchgaessner, Stephanie; Tondo, Lorenzo (February 28, 2018). Matteo Salvini extends Northern League's appeal as far south as Sicily. The Guardian. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ↑ Balmer, Crispian (February 9, 2018). Italy's League leaves northern bastions, bangs anti-migrant drum. Reuters. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Multiple references:
- Schumacher, Elizabeth (March 5, 2018). Matteo Salvini: Italy's far-right success story. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (March 5, 2018). Matteo Salvini: far-right leader steps out of Berlusconi's shadow. The Guardian. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- Lyman, Eric J. (March 8, 2018). Unlikely leader pulls right-wing fringe party to Italy’s political power center. The Washington Times. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ↑ Birnbaum, Michael; Pitrelli, Stefano (March 6, 2018). Matteo Salvini could be Western Europe's first far-right leader since 1945. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ↑ Multiple references:
- Squires, Nick (June 1, 2018). Italy's new populist coalition sworn in as deputy PM says expelling migrants is a priority. The Telegraph. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- Here is Italy's new cabinet in full. The Local. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- Montgomery, Jack (June 1, 2018). 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). Populists take power in Italy, with euro-skeptic agenda. Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- Italy swears in first fully populist government. The Local. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- ↑ Multiple references:
- Salvini in Sicily to push new tough migration line. The Local. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- Magnay, Jacquelin (June 4, 2018). Italy immigration: New interior minister Matteo Salvini promises to ‘stop the death boats’. The Australian. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- Vogt, Andrea; Huggler, Justin (June 3, 2018). Italy can no longer serve as 'Europe's refugee camp' says Matteo Salvini, as he pledges to push EU for stricter controls. The Telegraph. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ↑ Deacon, Liam (January 20, 2018). Italian Election Favourite Blasts Brussels: ‘The EU Can Go F*ck Itself’. Breitbart News. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Montgomery, Jack (January 6, 2018). Italy’s Lega Nord Commits to Leaving the Euro, Tripling Deportations, and Securing the Border. Breitbart News. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ↑ Binnie, Isla (February 24, 2018). League leader pledges to put Italians first as election campaign intensifies. Reuters. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (January 31, 2018). Italy’s Salvini Promises Sealed Borders, ‘Today’s Islam Is a Danger’. Breitbart News. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ↑ Tomlinson, Chris (February 28, 2018). Italian Populist Leader Slams Pro-Migrant Bishop: ‘The Gospel Doesn’t Say to Welcome Everyone’. Breitbart News. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ↑ Koukakis, Nasos (March 2, 2018). Not all Europeans hate Trump's tariff policy — Italy's far-right PM candidate loves it. CNBC. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ↑ Multiple references:
- Bojesson, Jacob (April 26, 2016). 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). Trump Meets with Italy’s Northern League Leader Salvini, ‘Total Agreement’ on Immigration. Breitbart News. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- ↑ Mcintosh, Jane (March 6, 2018). Who are Italy's two leading populist parties: Five Star Movement and the League? Deutsche Welle. Retrieved March 23, 2018.