View source for Matteo Salvini

{{Short description|Italian politician (born 1973)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = Matteo Salvini
| image               = File:Matteo Salvini Viminale crop.jpg
| caption             = Salvini in 2017
| office              = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Italy]]
| primeminister       = [[Giorgia Meloni]]
| alongside           = [[Antonio Tajani]]
| predecessor         = Himself and<br>[[Luigi Di Maio]] (2019)
| term_start          = 22 October 2022
| primeminister1      = [[Giuseppe Conte]]
| alongside1          = Luigi Di Maio
| term_start1         = 1 June 2018
| term_end1           = 5 September 2019
| predecessor1        = [[Angelino Alfano]] (2014)
| successor1          = Antonio Tajani and<br>himself (2022)
| office2             = [[Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (Italy)|Minister of Infrastructure and Transport]]
| primeminister2      = Giorgia Meloni
| term_start2         = 22 October 2022
| term_end2           = 
| predecessor2        = [[Enrico Giovannini]]
| office3             = [[Minister of the Interior (Italy)|Minister of the Interior]]
| primeminister3      = Giuseppe Conte
| term_start3         = 1 June 2018
| term_end3           = 5 September 2019
| predecessor3        = [[Marco Minniti]]
| successor3          = [[Luciana Lamorgese]]
| office4             = [[List of Federal Secretaries of Lega Nord|Federal Secretary of the League]]
| term_start4         = 15 December 2013
| term_end4           = 
| predecessor4        = [[Roberto Maroni]]
| successor4          = 
| office5             = [[Italian Senate|Member of the Senate of the Republic]]
| term_start5         = 23 March 2018
| term_end5           = 
| constituency5       = [[Lazio]] {{small|(2018–2019)}}<br />[[Calabria]] {{small|(2019–present)}}
| office6             = [[Member of the European Parliament]]
| term_start6         = 14 July 2009
| term_end6           = 22 March 2018
| constituency6       = [[North-West Italy (European Parliament constituency)|North-West Italy]]
| term_start7         = 20 July 2004
| term_end7           = 7 November 2006
| constituency7       = [[North-West Italy (European Parliament constituency)|North-West Italy]]
| office8             = [[Italian Chamber of Deputies|Member of the Chamber of Deputies]]
| term_start8         = 6 March 2013
| term_end8           = 15 March 2013
| constituency8       = [[Lombardy|Lombardy 1]]
| term_start9         = 29 April 2008
| term_end9           = 13 July 2009
| constituency9       = [[Lombardy|Lombardy 1]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1973|3|9|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Milan]], Italy
| party               = [[Lega (political party)|Lega]]
| otherparty          = [[Lega Nord]]<br>[[Us with Salvini]] {{small|(2014–2017)}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|Fabrizia Ieluzzi|2001|2010|end=div}}
| partner             = Giulia Martinelli {{small|(2011–2014)}}<br>[[Elisa Isoardi]] {{small|(2015–2018)}}<br>Francesca Verdini {{small|(2019–present)}}
| children            = 2
| alma_mater          = 
| signature           = Salvini signature.svg
| website             = {{URL|salvinipremier.it}}
}}

'''Matteo Salvini''' ({{IPA|it|matˈtɛːo salˈviːni}};<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dizionario.rai.it/ |title=Dizionario italiano multimediale e multilingue d'ortografia e di pronunzia |last1=Migliorini |first1=Bruno |last2=Tagliavini |first2=Carlo |last3=Fiorelli |first3=Piero |editor=Tommaso Francesco Borri |website=dizionario.rai.it |publisher=Rai Eri |access-date=12 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ |title=Dizionario di pronuncia italiana ''online'' |last1=Canepari |first1=Luciano |website=dipionline.it |access-date=12 February 2016}}</ref> born 9 March 1973) is an Italian politician who has been serving as [[Deputy Prime Minister of Italy]] and [[Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport|Minister of Infrastructure and Transport]] since 2022. He has been [[List of Federal Secretaries of Lega Nord|Federal Secretary]] of Italy's [[Lega (political party)|Lega]] party since December 2013 and an [[Italian Senate|Italian senator]] since March 2018. Salvini represented [[North-West Italy (European Parliament constituency)|Northwestern Italy]] in the [[Member of the European Parliament|European Parliament]] from 2004 to 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfoglio.it/politica/2018/02/03/news/salvini-carriera-eurodeputato-176735/|title=Il "Matteo first" di Salvini in Europa|website=www.ilfoglio.it}}</ref>

Salvini has been considered a hardline [[Eurosceptic]] politician, holding a starkly critical view of the [[European Union]], especially of the [[euro]]. He opposes [[illegal immigration into Italy]] and the EU as well as the EU's management of [[asylum seeker]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hunt|first=Louise|title=Salvini's Crackdown on Migrants in Italy Is Creating a Crisis, Not Solving One|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/28080/salvini-s-crackdown-on-migrants-in-italy-is-creating-a-crisis-not-solving-one|access-date=25 October 2021|website=www.worldpoliticsreview.com|date=30 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Italy's Salvini dismisses EU asylum proposal|website=[[Associated Press]] |date=24 July 2018 |url=https://apnews.com/article/a843226450064da79d94a08bfa1f2582}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fortuna|first=Gerardo|date=17 May 2019|title=Salvini fumes at EU court ruling on refugee returns|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/salvini-fumes-at-eu-court-ruling-on-refugee-returns/|access-date=25 October 2021|website=www.euractiv.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> He is also considered one of the main leaders of the [[populist]] wave in Europe during the 2010s and a member of the [[neo-nationalist]] movement, which is a rightist ideology that emphasizes [[de-globalization]], [[Nativism (politics)|nativist]] and [[protectionist]] stances.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stephens|first1=Bret|author-link1=Bret Stephens|title=Trump's Neo-Nationalists|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-neo-nationalists-1479774129|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=21 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/29/matteo-salvini-far-right-italian-politician-lega-leader-wants-copy-brexit-7584925/|title=Who is Matteo Salvini? Far-right Italian politician who wants to copy Brexit|date=29 May 2018}}</ref>

During his first stint as deputy prime minister, many international political commentators and newspapers, such as ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''[[The New York Times]]'', the ''[[Financial Times]]'', ''[[The Economist]]'', and ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', characterized him as a [[Strongman (politics)|strongman]] and the most influential politician in Italy after the [[2018 elections in Italy|2018 elections]].<ref name="FringeToStrongman">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/15/matteo-salvini-from-far-right-fringe-player-to-strongman-leader|title=Matteo Salvini: from far-right fringe player to strongman leader|first=Stephanie|last=Kirchgaessner|date=15 June 2018|website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref name="SalviniRomaNYT">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/19/world/europe/italy-roma-matteo-salvini.html|title=Italian Minister Moves to Count and Expel Roma, Drawing Outrage|newspaper=The New York Times|date=19 June 2018|last1=Povoledo|first1=Elisabetta|last2=Pianigiani|first2=Gaia}}</ref><ref name="HuffPo">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.it/lucia-annunziata/salvini-premier-di-fatto_a_23456245/|title=Salvini premier di fatto|date=11 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="CombativeFT">{{cite news | last1=Politi | first1=James | title=Combative Salvini Seizes Control of Italy's Political Agenda | url=https://www.ft.com/content/c8de2064-7303-11e8-aa31-31da4279a601 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/JPCkg |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | date=19 June 2018 | newspaper=[[Financial Times]] | access-date=21 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="Dominating">{{cite news | title=How Matteo Salvini Is Dominating Italian Politics | newspaper=The Economist | url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/06/23/how-matteo-salvini-is-dominating-italian-politics | date=21 June 2018 | access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> Salvini condemned the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name="Euractiv">{{cite news |title=Italy's Salvini arrives in Poland to help with refugees |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/italys-salvini-arrives-in-poland-to-help-with-refugees/ |work=[[Euractiv]] |date=8 March 2022}}</ref> He had previously praised Russia's president [[Vladimir Putin]], describing Putin in 2019 as "the best politician and statesman in the world".<ref>{{cite web|last=Nonleggerlo|first=Wil|url=https://espresso.repubblica.it/politica/2022/02/25/news/politici_dichiarazioni_vladimir_putin-339199528/|title=Quando Vladimir Putin era "un dono del signore": Dieci anni di dichiarazioni d'amore dei nostri politici|date=25 February 2022|work=L'Espresso|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Amante |first=Angelo |date=8 March 2022 |title=Italy's Salvini challenged over Putin praise in Polish visit |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/changing-tune-italys-salvini-pledges-help-refugees-ukraine-2022-03-08/ |access-date=9 March 2022}}</ref>

==Early life==
Matteo Salvini was born in [[Milan]] in 1973, the son of a business executive father and a homemaker mother.<ref name="ricerca.repubblica.it">{{Cite web|url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/05/27/il-ragazzaccio-del-carroccio-dai-boyscout-al.html|title=Il ragazzaccio del Carroccio dai boyscout al Leoncavallo – la Repubblica.it|website=Archivio – la Repubblica.it}}</ref> In 1985, at the age of 12, he took part in game show ''Doppio slalom'' (the Italian version of ''[[Blockbusters (U.S. game show)|Blockbusters]]''), hosted by Corrado Tedeschi on [[Canale 5]] and in 1993, at the age of 20, he participated on ''Il pranzo è servito'', hosted by [[Davide Mengacci]], which was broadcast by [[Rete 4]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://video.corriere.it/matteo-salvini-d-epoca-concorrente-de-pranzo-servito-sono-nullafacente/35bbbfbc-7154-11e4-b9c7-dbbe3ea603eb|title=Un Matteo Salvini d'epoca concorrente de Il pranzo è servito: "Sono un nullafacente"|website=video.corriere.it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archivio.corriere.it/Archivio/interface/landing.html|title=Archivio Corriere della Sera|website=archivio.corriere.it}}</ref>

Salvini studied at the [[Lyceum|Classical Lyceum]] "[[Alessandro Manzoni]]" in [[Milan]]. He later attended the [[University of Milan]] where he first studied [[political science]] before switching to history. However, he interrupted his studies to start his political career and never graduated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matteosalvini.eu/chi-sono|title=Matteo Salvini|website=www.matteosalvini.eu|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131218224118/http://www.matteosalvini.eu/chi-sono|archive-date=18 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UZoZDAAAQBAJ&q=matteo+salvini+scienze++storiche&pg=PT43|title=Secondo Matteo|first1=Rodolfo|last1=Sala|first2=Matteo|last2=Salvini|date=5 May 2016|publisher=Rizzoli|via=Google Books|isbn=9788858684726}}</ref>

Salvini has said that, as a teenager, he used to visit the left-wing [[Self-managed social centres in Italy|self-managed social centre]] [[Centro Sociale Leoncavallo|Leoncavallo]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=Luigi Mastrodonato|url=https://thevision.com/politica/salvini-comunista-lega/|title=L'eterna transizione politica di Matteo Salvini|date=5 February 2018|access-date=29 September 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180214012427/http://thevision.com/politica/salvini-comunista-lega/|archive-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> 

==Early political career==
In 1990, Salvini became a member of the [[Lega Nord]], the regionalist and separatist movement founded by [[Umberto Bossi]] in 1989. He was an active member of [[Young Padanians Movement]], LN's youth faction, of which he became city coordinator for Milan in 1992 and city secretary in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giovanipadani.leganord.org/salvini.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511220811/http://www.giovanipadani.leganord.org/salvini.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 May 2013|title=Movimento Giovani Padani|date=11 May 2013}}</ref> In the same year, he started working as journalist for ''[[La Padania]]'', the official newspaper of Lega Nord.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapadania.net/articoli/12045.php|title=ESISTE|website=www.lapadania.net|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140110115238/http://www.lapadania.net/articoli/12045.php|archive-date=10 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1999 he also worked on Lega's radio broadcaster ''Radio Padania Libera'' and since July 2003 he has been registered as a journalist on the list of Italian professional journalists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.odg.mi.it/newsite/albo/albo.php|title=Albo – Ordine dei Giornalisti|website=www.odg.mi.it}}</ref>

In 1993 he was elected in the [[City Council]] of Milan, a post that he would hold until 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biografieonline.it/biografia.htm?BioID=3349&biografia=Matteo+Salvini|title=Matteo Salvini. La biografia.|date=14 June 2017}}</ref> While in 1997 he participated in the [[Lega Nord#1997 Padanian elections|Padanian elections]] and was elected within the list ''Comunisti Padani'' (Padanian Communists), which gained 5 seats out of 210. In the following year, he was elected provincial secretary of the League for Milan.

In 1999, during an official visit of Italian President [[Carlo Azeglio Ciampi]] in Milan, Salvini refused to shake his hand, stating that Ciampi did not represent him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/1999/10/04/Politica/CIAMPI-CONSIGLIERE-LEGHISTA-NON-GLI-STRINGE-LA-MANO_132100.php|title=CIAMPI: CONSIGLIERE LEGHISTA NON GLI STRINGE LA MANO|website=www1.adnkronos.com|date=4 October 1999 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1999/10/05/ciampi-sulla-criminalita-non-siamo-allo-sbando.html|title=Ciampi: Sulla criminalità non siamo allo sbando – la Repubblica.it|website=Archivio – la Repubblica.it}}</ref>

===European Parliament and local leader===
[[File:Matteo Salvini.jpg|thumb|left|Salvini during a [[Young Padanians Movement|Young Padanians]] rally in 2006]]
{{Matteo Salvini sidebar}}
Salvini was elected with 14,000 votes a [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) for the [[European Parliament Election, 2004 (Italy)#Seats|North-West]] region in 2004 and participated in the European Parliament as a part of the [[Non-Inscrits]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/interni/leterno-ragazzo-ha-osato-sfidare-capo-quando-ancora-974222.html|title=La scalata lampo di Salvini l'ultrà leghista fedele a Bobo|first=Paolo|last=Bracalini|website=ilGiornale.it|date=8 December 2013}}</ref> During the legislature he selected Franco Bossi, brother of the party's secretary Umberto, as his parliamentary assistant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Politica/2004/11_Novembre/11/bossi_stella_preview.shtml?reason=unauthenticated&cat=1&cid=jKWWeZXD&pids=FR&origin=http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Politica/2004/11_Novembre/11/bossi_stella.shtml|title=Sottoscrivi C+|date=April 2014}}</ref>

In 2006, he lost his office as member of the [[European Parliament]] and was replaced by [[Gian Paolo Gobbo]]. Salvini was then re-elected city councilor in Milan, in the [[2006 Italian local elections|municipal election of that year]], with over 3,000 votes. In the same year, he became deputy secretary of the [[Lega Lombarda|Lombard League]], along with [[Marco Reguzzoni]], and the party leader in the city council.

He sat on the [[European Parliament]]'s [[Committee on Culture and Education]], and was a substitute for the [[European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety|Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety]] and a member of the delegation to the EU–Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee. He stood down from the European Parliament in November 2006.

Salvini ran in the [[2008 Italian general election|2008 general election]] and was elected in the [[Italian Chamber of Deputies|Chamber of Deputies]] for the constituency [[List of Italian constituencies#Lombardy 1|Lombardy 1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2008/elezioni08/elenco_eletti/cam_lombardia1_preview.shtml?reason=unauthenticated&cat=1&cid=iR8fSaPU&pids=FR&origin=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2008/elezioni08/elenco_eletti/cam_lombardia1.shtml|title=Sottoscrivi C+|date=April 2014}}</ref> However he resigned on 13 July 2009, after being elected once again in the European Parliament in the [[2009 European Parliament election in Italy|June election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/09_luglio_07/salvini_dimissioni_polemiche_video_2e3ff118-6b24-11de-a24c-00144f02aabc_preview.shtml?reason=unauthenticated&cat=1&cid=2Z85lgpY&pids=FR&origin=http://www.corriere.it/politica/09_luglio_07/salvini_dimissioni_polemiche_video_2e3ff118-6b24-11de-a24c-00144f02aabc.shtml|title=Sottoscrivi C+|date=April 2014}}</ref> In the Parliament, he sat in the [[Europe of Freedom and Democracy]] Group.

After he was re-elected in 2009 as an MEP, he sat on the [[Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection]] and was a member of the delegation for [[India–European Union relations|relations with]] India, and the delegation for relations with the Korean peninsula. He was a substitute on the [[Committee on International Trade]] and the delegation for [[South Africa–European Union relations|relations with]] South Africa.<ref name=Europa/>
On 2 June 2012, Salvini became the federal secretary of the Lombard League, defeating Cesarino Monti with 403 votes against 129.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainews.it/it/news.php?newsid=165862|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131218233738/http://www.rainews.it/it/news.php?newsid=165862|url-status=dead|title=Matteo Salvini eletto segretario della Lega|date=18 December 2013|archive-date=18 December 2013}}</ref> Following the election, on 12 October he decided to leave the office of group leader and city councilor after 19 years. Salvini was later elected deputy in the [[2013 Italian general election|2013 general election]], but he renounced his mandate on the first day of the legislature, and was replaced by Marco Rondini; Salvini maintained the position of MEP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.camera.it/leg17/29?tipoAttivita=&tipoVisAtt=&tipoPersona=&shadow_deputato=302741&idLegislatura=17|title=XVII Legislatura – XVII Legislatura – Deputati e Organi – Scheda deputato – SALVINI Matteo|website=www.camera.it}}</ref>

After the [[2014 European Parliament election in Italy|2014 European election]], in which he was re-elected, he returned to the Non-Inscrits.<ref name="Europa">{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/inOut/viewOutgoing.do?language=EN&id=28404|title=Your MEPs: Matteo SALVINI|work=[[Europa (web portal)|Europa]]|publisher=[[European Parliament]]|access-date=5 March 2011}}</ref> In June 2015, he was part of the creation of a new group, the [[Europe of Nations and Freedom]], which also included parties such as the French [[National Front (France)|National Front]] and the Dutch [[Party for Freedom]]; he was also the vice-president of the Italian delegation.

==Federal Secretary of Lega Nord==
{{Main article|Leadership of Matteo Salvini}}
[[File:Manifestazione Lega Nord, Torino 2013 51.JPG|thumb|upright|Matteo Salvini speaks during a Lega Nord rally, in 2013.]]

In September 2013, [[Roberto Maroni]], secretary of LN and Salvini's mentor, announced he would soon leave the party's leadership.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Anna |last1=Gandolfi |title=L'annuncio di Maroni: lascio la segreteria entro Natale |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2013/settembre/02/annuncio_Maroni_lascio_segreteria_entro_co_0_20130902_7b471db2-1393-11e3-b851-d970976d2918.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |location=Milan |date=2 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Albertino  |title=Maroni abdica. Tosi va verso la Balena Verde. La Lega non si sa |url=http://www.lintraprendente.it/2013/09/maroni-abdica-tosi-va-verso-la-balena-verde-la-lega-non-si-sa/ |newspaper=[[L'intraprendente]] |location=Milan |date=3 September 2013}}</ref> After a few weeks, Salvini announced his candidacy for the first Lega's [[2013 Lega Nord leadership election|leadership election]]. A congress was scheduled for mid-December and in accordance with the new rules set for the election five candidates filed their bid to become secretary: Umberto Bossi, Giacomo Stucchi, Manes Bernardini, Roberto Stefanazzi and Salvini.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Cesare |last1=Zapperi |title=Stucchi scende in campo per il fronte anti-Salvini |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2013/novembre/12/Stucchi_scende_campo_per_fronte_co_0_20131112_3bd7a334-4b62-11e3-94e1-503ecbe82dc7.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |location=Milan |date=12 November 2013}}</ref> Of these, only Bossi and Salvini gathered the 1,000 necessary signatures by party members to take part in the internal "primary", and Salvini collected four times the signatures gathered by Bossi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Segreteria Lega, in corsa Salvini e Bossi |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2013/11/28/italia/politica/segreteria-lega-in-corsa-salvini-e-bossi-YwZ8k8e7ft4OQE3wLMHSTO/pagina.html |newspaper=[[La Stampa]] |location=Turin |date=28 November 2013}}</ref>

On 7 December 2013, Salvini, who counted on the support of [[Roberto Maroni]] and most of the party's senior figures (including [[Flavio Tosi]], who had renounced a bid of his own), defeated [[Umberto Bossi]] with 82% of the vote in the "primary".<ref>{{cite news |title=Lega: primarie, a Salvini l'81,66% dei voti a Bossi il 18,34% |url=http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/News/Politica/Lega-primarie-a-Salvini-l8166-dei-voti-a-Bossi-il-1834_32965449296.html |publisher=[[Adnkronos]] |location=Rome |date=8 December 2013}}</ref> A week later, his election was ratified by the party's federal congress in [[Turin]].<ref>{{cite news |first1=Marco |last1=Cremonesi |title= Parte l'era di Salvini E Bossi difende l'euro |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2013/dicembre/16/Parte_era_Salvini_Bossi_difende_co_0_20131216_cee787e8-661a-11e3-9ab1-d0a8f0dc30ed.shtml |newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]] |location=Milan |date=16 December 2013}}</ref> Under Salvini, the party embraced a strongly critical view of the [[European Union]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mattinonline.ch/matteo-salvini-basta-essere-succubi-dellunione-europea-e-di-roma/ |title=Matteo Salvini: "Basta essere succubi dell'Unione Europea e di Roma" Mattinonline |website=Mattinonline.ch |date=16 December 2013 |access-date=2 April 2016}}</ref> especially of the [[euro]], which he described a "crime against humanity".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/politica/2013/12/15/Lega-Salvini-contro-euro-Crimine-contro-umanita-_9781968.html|title=Lega, Salvini contro euro: 'Crimine contro l'umanità'|work=ANSA.it|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> Ahead of the [[2014 European Parliament election in Italy|2014 European Parliament election]], Salvini started to cooperate with [[Marine Le Pen]], leader of the French [[National Front (France)|National Front]], and [[Geert Wilders]], leader of the Dutch [[Party for Freedom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2013-12-13/-europa-marine-pen-preferisce-salvini-e-lega-nord-beppe-grillo--210854.shtml?uuid=ABCNPxj|title=Europa, Marine Le Pen preferisce Salvini e la Lega Nord a Beppe Grillo|work=Il Sole 24 ORE|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lindipendenza.com/salvini-al-congresso-della-lega-marine-le-pen-e-wilders/ |title=Salvini: "Al congresso della Lega Marine Le Pen e Wilders" &#124; L'Indipendenza Nuova |website=Lindipendenza.com |access-date=2 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118180126/http://www.lindipendenza.com/salvini-al-congresso-della-lega-marine-le-pen-e-wilders/ |archive-date=18 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmnews.it/web/sezioni/top10/salvini-lega-ha-terreno-comune-con-le-pen-il-23-no-euro-day-20131114_085012.shtml|title=askanews|access-date=9 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117090525/http://www.tmnews.it/web/sezioni/top10/salvini-lega-ha-terreno-comune-con-le-pen-il-23-no-euro-day-20131114_085012.shtml|archive-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> These moves were criticised by Bossi, who called attention to Salvini's left-wing roots,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2014/04/03/news/umberto_bossi_il_blitz_del_ros_colpa_dei_servizi_la_gente_si_incazza-82617710/|title=Umberto Bossi: "Il blitz del Ros? Colpa dei Servizi, la gente si incazza"|author=di LAVINIA RIVARA|date=3 April 2014|work=Repubblica.it|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lindipendenza.com/bossi-con-le-pen-alleanza-transitoria-boso-la-lega-non-e-di-destra/ |title=Bossi: con Le Pen alleanza transitoria. Boso: la Lega non è di destra &#124; L'Indipendenza Nuova |website=Lindipendenza.com |date=29 May 2014 |access-date=2 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331194736/http://lindipendenza.com/bossi-con-le-pen-alleanza-transitoria-boso-la-lega-non-e-di-destra/ |archive-date=31 March 2016 }}</ref> and Tosi, who represented the party's pro-European wing and defended the euro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2014-02-05/tosi-non-si-puo-uscire-euro-italia-sarebbe-preda-speculazioni-162427.shtml?uuid=ABm2Vfu|title=Tosi: non si può uscire dall'euro. L'Italia sarebbe preda di speculazioni|work=Il Sole 24 ORE|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref>

In April 2014, Salvini presented the party's logo for the European Parliament election, with ''Basta [[Euro]]'' ("No more Euro") replacing ''Padania'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/03/31/lega-nuovo-simbolo-per-le-europee-via-scritta-padania-al-suo-posto-basta-euro/933161/|title=Europee 2014, nuovo simbolo Lega. Via scritta "Padania", al suo posto "Basta euro" – Il Fatto Quotidiano|author=RQuotidiano|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|access-date=9 June 2015|date=31 March 2014}}</ref> to emphasize the party's [[Euroscepticism]] and desire to exit from the [[Eurozone]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/ContentItem-6842ea78-18ff-4644-9f74-94fe3384a6b3.html|title=Salvini: nuovo simbolo Lega per Europee|work=rainews|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> The party included in its slates candidates from other anti-euro and/or autonomist movements (hence ''Autonomie'', meanining "Autonomies"), notably comprising [[Die Freiheitlichen|The Freedomites]], a [[right-wing populist]] and separatist party active in [[South Tyrol]] (whose symbol was also included).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/lombardia/notizie/2014/03/31/salvini-simbolo-lega-con-basta-euro_e1c158f9-4274-4f66-8156-0026e5a23811.html|title=Salvini: simbolo Lega con 'Basta euro'|work=ANSA.it|access-date=9 June 2015|date=31 March 2014}}</ref>

In the European Parliament election, the party obtained 6.2% of the vote and 5 MEPs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elezioni.interno.it/europee/scrutini/20140525/index.html|title=[Scrutini] Europee – Elezioni del 25 maggio 2014 – Ministero dell'Interno|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> The result was far worse than the previous EP election in 2009 (a fall of 4.0%), but better than that of the 2013 general election (a gain of 2.1%). The LN were third with 15.2% in Veneto (although Tosi obtained many more votes than Salvini, a fact that demonstrated Tosi's popular support and that the party was far from united on the anti-euro stance),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lintraprendente.it/2014/05/la-grande-vittoria-politica-di-tosi/|title=La grande vittoria (politica) di Tosi|access-date=9 June 2015|date=26 May 2014}}</ref> ahead of [[Forza Italia (2013)|Forza Italia]] (FI) and the other parties having emerged from the defunct [[People of Freedom]], and fourth in Lombardy with 14.6%. Despite the party having [[2014 Piedmontese regional election|lost Piedmont]] to the Democrats, after [[Roberto Cota]] had been forced to resign, Salvini was triumphant, with the success of [[Massimo Bitonci]] in being elected mayor of [[Padua]], a Democratic stronghold, adding to the successes.

The party's federal congress, summoned in Padua in July, approved Salvini's political stance, especially a plan for the introduction of a [[flat tax]] and the creation of a sister party in [[Central Italy|central]]-[[southern Italy]] and the [[Insular Italy|Isles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2014/luglio/21/Salvini_avverte_nuova_Lega_corre_co_0_20140721_7fa8c8fe-1097-11e4-80f9-2e3c33391d10.shtml|title=Salvini avverte: la nuova Lega corre da sola|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> In November the [[2014 Emilia-Romagna regional election|Emilia-Romagna regional election]] represented a major step for Salvini's "national project": the Lega Nord, which won 19.4% of the vote, was the region's second-largest party, and far ahead of Forza Italia, helping paving the way for the Lega Nord to become the dominant centre-right party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2014/novembre/24/Lega_doppia_Forza_Italia_urlo_co_0_20141124_68460c56-73a9-11e4-b779-766ff3003bac.shtml|title=La Lega doppia Forza Italia L?urlo di Salvini: "È storico"|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> In December the sister party for southern Italy, [[Us with Salvini]] (NcS), was launched.

[[File:Matteo Salvini - Cena di gala 30° anniversario Lega Nord Bergamo.jpg|thumb|left|Matteo Salvini in [[Bergamo]], 2015]]
The party's growing popularity among voters was reflected also in a constant rise in opinion polls. A December 2014 [[Ipsos]] poll showed that Salvini's approval rating had increased by from 28% to 33%, "cementing his position as a rising political force in Italy".<ref name=ft>{{cite news|author1=Rachel Sanderson|author2=James Politi|title=Italy's new political star: Northern League leader Matteo Salvini|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/6221b64a-79f8-11e4-9b34-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/8kcFg |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|work=Financial Times|date=2 December 2014}}</ref>

On 28 February 2015, Salvini led a rally in Rome protesting against illegal immigration.<ref>{{cite news | title=Italy Anti-Immigration Rally Draws Thousands in Rome | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31674709 | date=28 February 2015 | work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=12 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Italy's Anti-Immigrant Movement Brings Protest Rally to Rome | url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/world/2015/02/28/italys-anti-immigrant-movement-brings-protest-rally-to-rome/24177177/ | date=28 February 2015 | publisher=[[The Arizona Republic]] (from the [[Associated Press]]) | access-date=12 August 2018}}</ref>

In March 2015, after a long struggle between the two main Venetian party's leaders [[Flavio Tosi]] and [[Luca Zaia]], backed by Salvini, over the formation of the slates for the [[2015 Venetian regional election|upcoming regional election in Veneto]], Tosi was removed as national secretary of Liga Veneta and ejected from the federal party altogether.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2015/marzo/11/Salvini_rottura_nella_Lega_Tosi_co_0_20150311_19ef6226-c7bb-11e4-80a1-d57600bcc7ce.shtml|title=Salvini e la rottura nella Lega: Tosi non è più un militante del partito|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> Despite this in-fighting, the [[2015 Italian regional elections|2015 regional elections]] were another success for the LN, especially in Veneto, where [[Luca Zaia]] was re-elected with 50.1% of the vote and the combined score of the party's and Zaia's personal lists was 40.9%. The party also came second in [[2015 Ligurian regional election|Liguria]] with 22.3%, second in [[2015 Tuscan regional election|Tuscany]] with 16.2%, third in the [[Marche]] with 13.0% and third in [[Umbria]] with 14.0%. The LN had never polled so high in those five regions before.

After the [[2016 Italian local elections|2016 local elections]], in which the party ran below expectations in Lombardy (while doing well in Veneto—thanks to Zaia—as well as Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany) and the NcS performed badly,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lettera43.it/politica/il-fallimento-di-salvini-leader-del-centrodestra_43675250391.htm|title=Il fallimento di Salvini leader del centrodestra|date=20 June 2016|access-date=17 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926103602/http://www.lettera43.it/politica/il-fallimento-di-salvini-leader-del-centrodestra_43675250391.htm|archive-date=26 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://formiche.net/2016/06/20/ecco-come-ballottaggi-ridimensionano-matteo-salvini/|title=Ecco come i ballottaggi ridimensionano Matteo Salvini|website=Formiche.net|date=20 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://corrieredelveneto.corriere.it/veneto/notizie/politica/2016/7-giugno-2016/lega-miete-consensi-comuni-pd-soffre-grillini-non-sfondano-240526451658.shtml|title=La Lega miete consensi nei Comuni Il Pd soffre, i grillini non sfondano|first=Marco|last=Bonet|date=7 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornaledivicenza.it/home/veneto/la-lega-di-zaia-vince-su-quella-di-salvini-1.4949687|title=La Lega di Zaia vince su quella di Salvini|first=Società Editrice Athesis|last=S.p.A.}}</ref> Salvini's political stance came under pressure from Bossi, Maroni, and especially the recently elected leader of Lega Lombarda, Paolo Grimoldi, who criticized the party's right-wing turn and its focus on the South, while reclaiming the federalist and autonomist identity of the LN.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2016/06/21/matteo-salvini-flop-urne_n_10594850.html|title=Lega Nord, dopo le urne tramonta la pax salviniana: il segretario sul banco degli imputati per il flop al Sud e la linea lepenista|date=21 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/nella-lega-allarme-salvini-sotto-accusa-cos-perdiamo-voti-1274061.html|title=Nella Lega in allarme Salvini è sotto accusa: "Così perdiamo voti"|first=Paolo|last=Bracalini|website=ilGiornale.it|date=21 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/tutta-colpa-salvini-bossi-guida-fronte-contro-capo-leghista-1274517.html|title="Tutta colpa di Salvini". Bossi guida il fronte contro il capo leghista|first=Paolo|last=Bracalini|website=ilGiornale.it|date=22 June 2016}}</ref>

In the run-up of the [[2017 Lega Nord leadership election|2017 leadership election]], Salvini focused on becoming the leader of the [[Centre-right in Italy|centre-right]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/speciali/referendum/2016/11/11/referendum-berlusconi-dopo-412-cambiare-italicum-e-votare_c30e6b23-8384-4167-8ed1-ea5c2bd88caf.html|title=Salvini: "Io candidato premier? Se chiedono ci sono. Col no si va a votare" – Referendum|date=11 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/16_novembre_12/matteo-salvini-firenze-pronto-candidarmi-come-premier-8bf1731c-a8e9-11e6-b875-b27331f307f4.shtml|title=Matteo Salvini a Firenze: "Pronto a candidarmi come premier"|first=Annalisa|last=Grandi|year=2016}}</ref> and, possibly, changing the Northern League's name by ditching "Northern".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/16_ottobre_25/lega-congresso-togliere-parola-nord-e56a6d54-9a25-11e6-939e-ec3a0eea054f.shtml|title=Lega, un congresso per togliere la parola Nord|first=Marco|last=Cremonesi|date=24 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/salvini-vuole-togliere-nord-nome-lega-1323142.html|title=Salvini vuole togliere il "Nord" al nome della Lega|first=Ivan|last=Francese|website=ilGiornale.it|date=25 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/politica/12001736/lega-nord-cambia-nome-addio-nord.html|title=Clamoroso Salvini, addio Lega Nord. Mossa-terremoto, caos nel partito|website=www.liberoquotidiano.it|access-date=17 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140733/http://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/politica/12001736/lega-nord-cambia-nome-addio-nord.html|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Paolo Grimoldi, leader of [[Lega Lombarda]], chose not to run against Salvini (and Maroni maintained his neutrality),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linkiesta.it/it/article/2017/04/03/lega-salvini-convoca-il-congresso-e-cerca-il-plebiscito/33752|title=Lega, Salvini convoca il congresso e cerca il plebiscito|date=3 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/04/04/italia/la-lega-il-congressolampo-e-la-fronda-anti-salvini-nel-nome-della-padania-THBO4Zx0V9xS92Q0OGDeFM/pagina.html|title=La Lega, il congresso-lampo e la fronda anti Salvini nel nome della Padania|website=LaStampa.it|date=4 April 2017}}</ref> but Gianni Fava, Lombard regional minister of Agriculture in the old social-democratic tradition, announced his bid aiming at representing the federalist / autonomist / separatist wings of the party. Fava, who was anti-[[prohibition of drugs]], pro-[[civil union]]s for [[same-sex relationship|same-sex couples]] and, like Bossi, anti-National Front ("[it] is one of the most centralist and conservative blocs in Europe, what does it have to do with us?"), recalled an old activist saying "let's hurry up in making Padania, then I want to return voting the left" and added "this was the League and it has to be like this anew".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/04/11/italia/fava-sfido-salvini-perch-la-lega-non-perda-le-sue-radici-voglio-un-congresso-vero-mh6Emx5KmkMHKcMdHn10II/pagina.html|title=Fava: "Sfido Salvini perché la Lega non perda le sue radici. Voglio un congresso vero"|website=LaStampa.it|date=12 April 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/04/11/news/lega_spunta_l_anti-salvini_gianni_fava_giunta_maroni_sfida_il_segretario_al_congresso-162765692|title=Lega, spunta l'anti-Salvini. Gianni Fava (giunta Maroni) sfida il segretario al congresso|date=11 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italiaoggi.it/giornali/dettaglio_giornali.asp?preview=false&accessMode=FA&id=2171078&codiciTestate=1&sez=giornali&titolo=Lega,+un+mantovano+lancia+la+sfida+a+Salvini|title=Lega, un mantovano lancia la sfida a Salvini|website=www.italiaoggi.it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/lega-simbolo-via-nord-Salvini-premier-a6ca9637-6154-45e2-a98c-f91fda0893ea.html |title=Lega. Ecco il simbolo, via Nord ma con Salvini premier|date=21 December 2017 |website= rainews.it|publisher=RAI News }}</ref>

===2018 general election===
[[File:Salvini Premier.jpg|thumb|The logo chosen by Salvini for the [[2018 Italian general election|2018 electoral campaign]], inspired by the campaign logo of Donald Trump's [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|2016 campaign for President]]]]
{{See also|2018 Italian government formation}}
On 21 December 2017, Salvini presented the new electoral logo of the Northern League for the [[2018 Italian general election|2018 general election]]; for the first time since its foundation the party ran in all the constituencies of the country, using a logo without the word "Northern".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/lega-simbolo-via-nord-Salvini-premier-a6ca9637-6154-45e2-a98c-f91fda0893ea.html|title=Lega. Ecco il simbolo, via Nord ma con Salvini premier|website=rainews}}</ref>

The League obtained a resounding success, becoming the third largest party in Italy with 17.4% of the vote. The ticket won most of its votes in the North (including 32.2% in [[Veneto]], 28.0% in [[Lombardy]], 26.7% in [[Trentino]], 25.8% in [[Friuli-Venezia Giulia]] and 22.6% in [[Piedmont]]), but also made inroads in the rest of the country, especially in [[Central Italy]] (notably 20.2% in [[Umbria]]), the upper part of the South (13.8% in [[Abruzzo]]) and [[Sardinia]] (10.8%). The League became the party with the most votes in the [[Centre-right coalition (Italy)|centre-right coalition]] and thus Salvini was ''de facto'' chosen as coalition's leader; the centre-right won a [[Plurality (voting)|plurality]] of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate; however, no political group or party won an outright majority, resulting in a [[hung parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/speciali/politica/elezioni2018/2018/03/04/news/risultati_elezioni_politiche_pd_centrodestra_m5s_fi_lega-190424815/?ref=RHPPTP-BL-I0-C12-P1-S1.12-T1|title=Elezioni politiche: vincono M5s e Lega. Crollo del Partito democratico. Centrodestra prima coalizione. Il Carroccio sorpassa Forza Italia|date=4 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.corriere.it/elezioni-2018/notizie/elezioni-2018-exit-poll-risultati-proiezioni-spoglio-eb21387e-1ff1-11e8-a09a-92b478235f6f.shtml|title=Elezioni 2018: M5S primo partito, nel centrodestra la Lega supera FI|first=Alessandro|last=Sala|newspaper=Corriere della Sera|year=2018}}</ref>

After the election's results were known, both Salvini and the head of the [[Five Star Movement]], [[Luigi Di Maio]], stated that they deserved to receive from President [[Sergio Mattarella]] the mandate to form a new cabinet, because they led, respectively, the largest party and the largest coalition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2018-03-05/terremoto-pd-renzi-si-dimette-salvini-la-lega-ha-vinto-e-guidera-governo-maio-dato-storico-112905.shtml?uuid=AECXiKBE|title=Salvini: "La Lega guiderà governo". Di Maio: "Inizia Terza Repubblica"|website=Il Sole 24 ORE|date=5 March 2018 }}</ref> On 6 March, Salvini repeated his campaign message that his party would refuse any coalition with the Five Star Movement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/italien-das-sind-die-ziele-der-populisten-salvini-und-di-maio-15481130-p2.html|title=Was die Populisten wirklich wollen|date=6 March 2018|publisher=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]|newspaper=Faz.net|last1=Rüb|first1=Matthias}}</ref>

On 24 March, the centre-right coalition and the Five Star Movement agreed on the election of presidents of the Houses of Parliament, [[Roberto Fico]] of M5S for the Chamber and [[Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati]] of Forza Italia for the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/rom-italienische-wahlsieger-einigen-sich-auf-parlamentspraesidenten-a-1199763.html|title=Italienische Wahlsieger einigen sich auf Parlamentspräsidenten|date=24 March 2018|work=[[Der Spiegel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.suedtirolnews.it/video/italienische-wahlsieger-einigen-sich-auf-parlamentspraesidenten|title=Italienische Wahlsieger einigen sich auf Parlamentspräsidenten [1:10]|date=25 March 2018|work=Südtirol News|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330012252/https://www.suedtirolnews.it/video/italienische-wahlsieger-einigen-sich-auf-parlamentspraesidenten|archive-date=30 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 7 May, President Mattarella held a third round of government formation talks, after which he formally confirmed the lack of any possible majority. The Five Star Movement was rejecting an alliance with the entire centre-right coalition, the [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] was rejecting an alliance with both the Five Star Movement and the centre-right coalition, and the League refusing to enter a government with the Five Star Movement without [[Silvio Berlusconi]]'s Forza Italia party (yet whose presence in the government was explicitly vetoed by Luigi Di Maio).

Consequently, Mattarella announced his intention to soon appoint a "neutral government" (irrespective of M5S and League's refusal to support such an option). This would take over from the [[Gentiloni Cabinet]], which was considered unable to lead Italy into a second consecutive election as it was representing a majority from a past legislature, and offering an early election in July (on what would be the first ever summer general election in Italy) as a realistic option to take into consideration due to the deadlock situation.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/07/sergio-mattarella-italian-president-neutral-government |newspaper= The Guardian |access-date= 9 May 2018 |date=7 May 2018 |title= Italian president says 'neutral' government should lead until end of year}}</ref> The Lega and M5S agreed to hold new elections on 8 July, an option that was however rejected by all other parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2018-05/italien-staatspraesident-erklaert-regierungsbildung-fuer-gescheitert|title=Staatspräsident erklärt Regierungsbildung für gescheitert|website=DIE ZEIT|date=7 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/italien-regierungsbildung-ist-gescheitert-italien-steht-vor-neuwahlen/21253934.html|title=Regierungsbildung ist gescheitert – Italien steht vor Neuwahlen|website=Handelsblatt|date=7 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-italy-politics/italy-repeat-election-looms-in-july-as-parties-still-far-apart-idUKKBN1I816S?il=0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508054430/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-italy-politics/italy-repeat-election-looms-in-july-as-parties-still-far-apart-idUKKBN1I816S?il=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 May 2018|title=Italy repeat election looms in July as parties still far apart|last=Giorgio|first=Massimiliano Di|work=U.K.|access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref>

On 9 May, after a day of rumours, both Salvini and Di Maio officially requested that President Mattarella give them 24 more hours to strike a government agreement between the two parties.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.ft.com/content/b253e5a4-53a0-11e8-b3ee-41e0209208ec |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/9SQfJ |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=Financial Times |access-date= 9 May 2018 |date=9 May 2018 |title= Italy's populist parties given 24 hours to avert fresh elections}}</ref> That evening, Silvio Berlusconi publicly announced Forza Italia would not support a Five Star Movement – League government on a vote of confidence, but he would still maintain the centre-right alliance nonetheless, thus opening the door to a possible majority government between the two parties.<ref>{{cite news |work= Repubblica.it |url= http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/09/news/governo_salvini_ci_provero_fino_all_ultimo_-195890439/ |publisher= La Repubblica |access-date= 9 May 2018 |date=9 May 2018 |title= Governo M5S-Lega, Berlusconi: nessun veto all'intesa ma no alla fiducia |language= it}}</ref>

On 13 May, the Five Star Movement and the League reached an agreement in principle on a government programme, likely clearing the way for the formation of a governing coalition between the two parties, but could not find an agreement regarding the members of a government cabinet, most importantly the prime minister. Five Star Movement and League leaders met with Mattarella on 14 May to guide the formation of a new government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/italys-populist-5-star-league-parties-reach-deal-on-government-program-2018-05-13|website=MarketWatch|date=13 May 2018|title=Italy's populist 5 Star, League parties reach deal on government program}}</ref> On their meeting with President Mattarella, both parties asked for an additional week of negotiations to agree on a detailed government programme and a prime minister to lead the joint government. Both M5S and the League announced their intention to ask their respective members to vote on the government agreement by the weekend.

[[File:Salvini Centinaio Giorgetti.jpg|thumb|left|Salvini with League's delegation at the [[Quirinal Palace]] in April 2018]]
On 21 May 2018, Di Maio and Salvini proposed the professor of private law [[Giuseppe Conte]] for the role of [[Prime Minister of Italy|Prime Minister]] in the [[2018 Italian government formation|2018]] [[Politics of Italy#Government|Italian government]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://formiche.net/2018/02/giuseppe-conte-scelto-luigi-maio-la-squadra-governo/|title=Chi è Giuseppe Conte, scelto da Luigi Di Maio per la possibile squadra di governo|website=formiche.net|date=28 February 2018|language=it|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141200/http://formiche.net/2018/02/giuseppe-conte-scelto-luigi-maio-la-squadra-governo/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44197351|work=BBC News|title=Italy populist government pact: Candidate for prime minister named|date=21 May 2018|access-date=24 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/21/italy-populist-coalition-set-to-name-political-novice-as-pm-nominee|title=Italian president in talks as populist parties put forward novice for PM|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> despite reports in the Italian press suggesting that President Mattarella still had significant reservations about the direction of the new government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/world/europe/italy-government-giuseppe-conte-di-maio.html|title=Italy's Populists Move Closer to Power, With Little-Known Pick for Prime Minister|newspaper=The New York Times|date=21 May 2018 |url-access=limited|last1=Horowitz |first1=Jason }}</ref> On 23 May 2018, Conte was invited to the [[Quirinal Palace]] to receive the presidential mandate to form a new cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-populists-premier-presidential-mandate-55386036|title=The Latest: Premier-designate confirms Italy's place in EU|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=2 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524005429/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-populists-premier-presidential-mandate-55386036|archive-date=24 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/23/news/governo_conte_torna_in_bilico_tempi_piu_lunghi_mattarella_vuole_riflettere-197118162/?ref=RHPPLF-BL-I0-C8-P1-S1.8-T1|title=Di Battista all'attacco di Mattarella: "Non si opponga agli italiani". La lunga giornata del Colle|date=23 May 2018|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> In the traditional statement after the appointment, Conte said that he would be the "defense lawyer of the Italian people".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/politica/governo-mattarella-conferisce-a-conte-l-incarico-saro-l-avvocato-difensore-degli-italiani-_3141680-201802a.shtml|title=Governo, Conte incaricato da Mattarella: "Sarò lʼavvocato difensore degli italiani" – Tgcom24|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524081854/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/politica/governo-mattarella-conferisce-a-conte-l-incarico-saro-l-avvocato-difensore-degli-italiani-_3141680-201802a.shtml|archive-date=24 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

However, on 27 May, Conte renounced his office, due to conflicts between Salvini and President Mattarella. In fact, Salvini proposed the university professor [[Paolo Savona]] as [[Italian Minister of Economy and Finances|Minister of Economy and Finances]], but Mattarella strongly opposed him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/27/news/governo_conte_mattarella_savona-197450521/|title=Governo, il giorno della rinuncia di Conte. Ecco come è fallita la trattativa su Savona|date=27 May 2018|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> In his speech after Conte's resignation, Mattarella declared that the two parties wanted to bring Italy out of the [[Eurozone]], and as the guarantor of the Italian Constitution and the country's interest and stability he could not allow this. Moreover, in the same speech he affirmed that a possible abandonment of the euro had never been declared during the electoral campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.it/2018/05/27/lora-piu-buia-di-mattarella-la-scelta-obbligata-di-difendere-linteresse-nazionale-dopo-il-no-dei-partiti-alla-soluzione-giorgetti-per-leconomia_a_23444708/|title=L'ora più buia di Mattarella: la scelta obbligata di difendere l'interesse nazionale dopo il no dei partiti alla soluzione Giorgetti per l'Economia|date=27 May 2018|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/27/news/governo_dopo_le_minacce_di_impeachment_sui_social_parte_la_solidarieta_a_mattarella-197516727/|title=Governo, firme e tweet di solidarietà a Mattarella. Ma spuntano anche minacce di morte|date=27 May 2018|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>

On the following day, Mattarella gave [[Carlo Cottarelli]], a former director of the [[International Monetary Fund]], the task of forming a new government.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/28/news/salvini_radio_capital_centrodestra-197543015/?ref=RHPPTP-BL-I0-C12-P1-S1.12-T1|title=Cottarelli accetta l'incarico: "Senza fiducia il Paese al voto dopo agosto"|date=28 May 2018|work=Repubblica.it|access-date=28 May 2018|language=it}}</ref> On 28 May 2018, the Democratic Party (PD) announced that it would abstain from voting for Cottarelli, while the Five Star Movement and the center-right parties [[Forza Italia (2013)|Forza Italia]] (FI), [[Brothers of Italy]] (FdI) and the League announced their vote against.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/28/news/salvini_se_berlusconi_lo_vota_addio_alleanza_-197549039/?ref=RHPPTP-BH-I0-C12-P2-S1.12-T2|title=Berlusconi: "No alla fiducia e centrodestra unito al voto". Ma Salvini: "Alleanza con Fi? Ci penserò"|date=28 May 2018|work=Repubblica.it|access-date=29 May 2018|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/28/news/franceschini_pd_renzi_martina-197570543/?ref=RHPPTP-BH-I0-C12-P2-S1.12-T1|title=Pd, Martina: "Fiducia a Cottarelli". Renzi: "Salviamo il Paese". E i dem: manifestazione nazionale a Roma il 1° giugno|date=28 May 2018|work=Repubblica.it|access-date=29 May 2018|language=it}}</ref>

Cottarelli was expected to submit his list of ministers for approval to President Mattarella on 29 May. However, on 29 and 30 May he held only informal consultations with the President, waiting for the formation of a "political government".<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/politica/18_maggio_30/governo-cottarelli-quirinale-mattarella-61982f12-63d6-11e8-9b4c-0d37dd8c9cfa.shtml|title=Incontro informale in corso tra Cottarelli e MattarellaI tre scenari possibili|last=Online|first=Redazione|work=Corriere della Sera|access-date=30 May 2018|language=it-IT}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/30/news/trattativa_m5s_lega_cottarelli_colle-197707709/?ref=RHPPTP-BH-I0-C12-P2-S1.12-T1|title=Governo, Cottarelli vede Mattarella. Ora al lavoro alla Camera. Riparte la trattativa giallo-verde|date=30 May 2018|work=Repubblica.it|access-date=30 May 2018|language=it}}</ref> Meanwhile, Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio announced their willingness to restart the negotiations to form a political government; [[Giorgia Meloni]], leader of FdI, gave her support to the initiative.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/29/news/di_maio_spero_voto_prima_possibile_ma_pronti_a_collaborare_con_mattarella_-197682177/?ref=RHPPTP-BH-I0-C12-P2-S1.12-T1|title=Di Maio: "Impeachment non più sul tavolo". E si riapre l'ipotesi di un governo Lega-M5s|date=29 May 2018|work=Repubblica.it|access-date=30 May 2018|language=it}}</ref> On 31 May, the Five Star Movement and the Lega Nord reached an agreement on the new government, without Paolo Savona as finance minister (who would become Minister of European Affairs instead), and with Giuseppe Conte at its head.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/31/news/governo_m5s_lega-197794180/|title=Governo, Conte accetta l'incarico e presenta la lista: 18 ministri, 5 le donne. Tria all'Economia|date=31 May 2018|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="rainews">{{cite news |url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/Giuseppe-Conte-riceve-e-accetta-incarico-Presentata-a-Mattarella-la-lista-dei-ministri-1d8b9d38-c0c1-40c1-a6e9-44558da0fe1a.html |title=Nasce il governo Conte. Presentata a Mattarella la lista dei ministri. Di Maio e Salvini vicepremier |work=[[RaiNews]] |language=it |date=1 June 2018 |access-date= 1 June 2018}}</ref>

===Party's developments===
[[File:Matteo Salvini datisenato 2018.jpg|thumb|Official portrait of Salvini for the [[Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate]]]]
Along with the membership recruitment of the League in the Centre-North, in 2018 the party launched a parallel membership recruitment in the Centre-South under the name of "League for Salvini Premier" (LSP),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tpi.it/2018/07/08/doppie-tessere-lega-salvini|title=Lo strano caso delle doppie tessere della Lega: così Salvini si è fatto due partiti – TPI|date=8 July 2018}}</ref> practically supplanting the [[Us with Salvini]] movement. The LSP, whose platform had been published in the ''[[Gazzetta Ufficiale]]'' in December 2017<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/vediMenuHTML;jsessionid=zLkAYtiVQi8t+yqW+98Yfw__.ntc-as1-guri2a?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2017-12-14&atto.codiceRedazionale=17A08410&tipoSerie=serie_generale&tipoVigenza=originarioStatuto|title=del movimento politico "Lega per Salvini Premier" iscritto nel registro dei partiti politici, ai sensi dell'articolo 4 del decreto-legge 28 dicembre 2013, n. 149, convertito, con modificazioni, dalla legge 21 febbraio 2014, n. 13}}</ref> and had been described as a "parallel party",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/centrodestra-salvini-seppellisce-il-vecchio-carroccio-e-fonda-un-altro-partito-dfa2c0d9-9f75-4983-95ae-110f83bbbb4b.html|title=Centrodestra. Salvini seppellisce il vecchio Carroccio e fonda un altro partito|website=rainews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/in-edicola/articoli/2018/01/24/soldi-e-poltrone-salvini-schiera-il-partito-parallelo/4112100/|title=Lega, Salvini schiera il "partito parallelo" per seppellire il vecchio Carroccio su cui pendono sequestri e confische|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano}}</ref> might eventually replace both the LN and NcS, which would be merged into one. In the meantime, the parties' joint parliamentary groups were named "League–Salvini Premier" in the Chamber<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.camera.it/leg18/1083|title=XVIII Legislatura – Deputati e Organi – Modifiche intervenute|website=www.camera.it}}</ref> and "League–Salvini Premier–[[Sardinian Action Party]]" in the Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senato.it/Leg18/4839|title=senato.it – Senato della Repubblica senato.it – Variazioni dei Gruppi parlamentari|website=www.senato.it}}</ref> According to news sources, all this is closely related to the seizure by the judiciary of the bank accounts of the LN, after the conviction of Bossi and Belsito for fraud (see [[Lega Nord#From Bossi to Maroni]]). If the seizure is confirmed, extended to the bank accounts of the party's national sections or even involves any political entity featuring "Lega" in its name, Salvini might launch a brand-new party and absorb most of the centre-right parties into it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://milano.corriere.it/notizie/politica/18_agosto_31/partito-unico-centrodestra-piano-salvini-il-5-settembre-3999f4ee-aca8-11e8-a56f-72aa622a097c.shtml|title=Il piano di Salvini dopo il 5 settembre: partito unico del centrodestra|first=Marco Cremonesi, inviato a|last=Venezia|date=31 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/salvini-il-piano-segreto-per-un-partito-unico-del-centrodestra-a-settembre-557650.html|title=Salvini, il piano per un partito unico del centrodestra e Palazzo Chigi|website=Affaritaliani.it}}</ref>

On 22 February 2019, the Italian magazine ''[[L'espresso]]'' published an investigation revealing a 3 million euro funding scheme,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espresso.repubblica.it/inchieste/2019/02/20/news/esclusivo-lega-milioni-russia-1.331835|title=Esclusivo – La trattativa segreta per finanziare con soldi russi la Lega di Matteo Salvini|date=21 February 2019|website=L'Espresso|language=it|access-date=23 February 2019}}</ref> paid for by Kremlin-linked entities and disguised as a diesel sale. The scheme involved the Russian state-owned oil company [[Rosneft]] selling 3 million dollars worth of diesel to an Italian company. Allegedly, the money was to be transferred from Rosneft to the League through a Russian subsidy of the Italian bank [[Banca Intesa]], in which League's federal council member Andrea Mascetti is a board member. The money was supposed to fund the coming [[2019 European Parliament election|European election]] campaign. Italian authorities are currently investigating the matter.<ref name=guardian_investigations />

The case obtained renewed attention in July 2019 when [[BuzzFeed]] made public the voice recordings and full transcripts of the meeting at the base of the investigation previously published by ''L'Espresso''. The recordings show Salvini's public relations officer Gianluca Savoini meeting with Russian agents close to [[Vladimir Putin]] in Moscow, at the same time when Salvini was also in Moscow on an official trip. The meeting centered around providing the Lega with $65&nbsp;million of illegal funding by the Russian state. The matter was made part of a larger investigation by Italian authorities into the League's finances.<ref name=guardian_investigations>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/11/matteo-salvinis-party-under-investigation-for-alleged-russian-oil-deal |title=Italian prosecutors investigate League over alleged Russian oil deal claims |date=11 July 2019 |access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertonardelli/salvini-russia-oil-deal-secret-recording |title=Revealed: The Explosive Secret Recording That Shows How Russia Tried To Funnel Millions To The "European Trump" |website=[[BuzzFeed News]] |date=10 July 2019 |access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref> The League has an official cooperation deal with Russia's governing party [[United Russia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0d33d22c-0280-11e7-ace0-1ce02ef0def9 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/https://www.ft.com/content/0d33d22c-0280-11e7-ace0-1ce02ef0def9 |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Putin's party signs deal with Italy's far-right Lega Nord |first1=Max |last1=Seddon |first2=James |last2=Politi |work=Financial Times |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=9 August 2019}}</ref>

In August 2019, in yet another funding scandal unrelated to the previously mentioned Russia investigations, [[Supreme Court of Cassation (Italy)|Italy's highest court]] sentenced Salvini's party to pay back 49 million euros ($54.83&nbsp;million) of illegally acquired taxpayer funding to the Italian state. Additionally, Belsito was given prison sentences.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-league-court/italys-top-court-upholds-seizure-of-league-funds-over-corruption-idUSKCN1UX0ZB |title=Italy's top court upholds seizure of League funds over corruption |date=7 August 2019 |access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref>

In the summer of 2019, Salvini visited several public beaches to campaign, something unusual for an Italian politician.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Jones | first1=Gavin | last2=Amante | first2=Angelo | title=No beach bum: Salvini's populist seaside gambit stymies critics | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-salvini-beach/no-beach-bum-salvinis-populist-seaside-gambit-stymies-critics-idUSKCN1UZ1ZJ | date=9 August 2019 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=9 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Sciorilli Borrelli | first1=Silvia | title=It's the Matteo Salvini summer roadshow | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/mc-matteo-hits-the-decks/ | date=6 August 2019 | publisher=[[Politico]] | access-date=9 August 2019}}</ref>

In September 2022, numerous League committees expressed their desire to call for a Federal Congress and replace Salvini as Secretary. In October, the party founder [[Umberto Bossi]] announced the creation of the "Northern Committee" to re-gain trust from voters. Many politicians within the party joined this faction, which is openly challenging Salvini.

===European politics===
Leading up to the [[2019 European Parliament election]], Salvini worked to create a pan-European alliance of nationalist political parties,<ref>{{cite news | last1=Parodi | first1=Emilio | title=Nationalist EU parties plan to join forces after May elections | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-election-italy/nationalist-eu-parties-plan-to-join-forces-after-may-elections-idUSKCN1RK10F | date=8 April 2019 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Barry | first1=Colleen | title=Italy emerges as ground zero for European extremist populism | url=https://www.apnews.com/6ad43709411a4526a0e520869652158e | date=3 May 2019 | publisher=[[Associated Press]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Barry | first1=Colleen | title=Italy's Salvini stakes out post as Europe's populist leader | url=https://www.apnews.com/3376a808df2641cf9da01476bcf7a1e9 | date=19 May 2019 | publisher=[[Associated Press]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Salvini seeks European nationalist unity at Milan rally | url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190518-salvini-seeks-european-nationalist-unity-milan-rally | date=18 May 2019 | publisher=[[France 24]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Giuffrida | first1=Angela | title=Europe's far-right leaders unite with a vow to 'change history' | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/18/europe-far-right-leaders-unite-milan-vow-to-change-history | date=18 May 2019 | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref> and he continued these efforts after the election.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Guarascio | first1=Francesco | title=Europe's rising far-right tries to bury differences to wield clout | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-election-right/europes-rising-far-right-tries-to-bury-differences-to-wield-clout-idUSKCN1SX1EP | date=27 May 2019 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Hinnant | first1=Lori | title=Macron vs. Salvini: Two leaders face off over EU's future | url=https://www.apnews.com/6152801851684d879999dbcdc62c1e0f | date=27 May 2019 | publisher=[[Associated Press]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Squires | first1=Nick | title=How a triumphant Matteo Salvini plans to build a new coalition of eurosceptics with Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/05/27/matteo-salvini-triumphs-european-elections-taking-nearly-35/ | date=28 May 2019 | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Barry | first1=Colleen | title=Salvini vows to unite EU populists yet lacks partners | url=https://www.apnews.com/f4c8b3c5e07e4924833ff072aed10783 | date=28 May 2019 | publisher=[[Associated Press]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref> He founded the [[European Alliance of Peoples and Nations]] on 8 April 2019. In the [[2019 European Parliament election in Italy|European elections in Italy]], the League won a plurality of votes for the first time in a nationwide election,<ref>{{cite web | last1=Amaro | first1=Silvia | title=Italy's anti-immigration Lega party enjoys EU election triumph | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/27/italy-european-election-results.html | date=27 May 2019 | publisher=[[CNBC]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Castelfranco | first1=Sabina | title=In Italy, Anti-Migrant Populist Wins Big | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/in-italy-anti-migrant-populist-wins-big/4933943.html | date=27 May 2019 | publisher=[[Voice of America]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref> gaining more than 34% of votes,<ref>{{cite news | last1=Balmer | first1=Crispian | last2=Amante | first2=Angelo | title=Italy's ruling League triumphs in EU vote as 5-Star slumps | url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-election-italy/italys-ruling-league-triumphs-in-eu-vote-as-5-star-slumps-idUKKCN1SW0WZ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527030420/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-election-italy/italys-ruling-league-triumphs-in-eu-vote-as-5-star-slumps-idUKKCN1SW0WZ | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 May 2019 | date=26 May 2019 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Follain | first1=John | last2=Totaro | first2=Lorenzo | title=Salvini Pulls Rank After Trouncing Five Star in EU Vote | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-26/salvini-s-league-set-to-surge-but-premiership-may-elude-him | date=26 May 2019 | publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref> something which strengthened Salvini's position in Italy.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Ritter | first1=Karl | last2=Barry | first2=Colleen | title=European victory gives Salvini more leverage in Italy | url=https://apnews.com/dfd4f5206e5b4152b7dcb337e5fa0356 | date=27 May 2019 | publisher=[[Associated Press]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Sciorilli Borrelli | first1=Silvia | last2=Barigazzi | first2=Jacopo | title=Salvini wins big — but only in Italy | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-election-2019-matteo-salvinis-wins-big-but-only-in-italy/ | date=27 May 2019 | publisher=[[Politico]] | access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Galofaro | first1=Antonino | title=La double victoire de Matteo Salvini | url=https://www.letemps.ch/monde/double-victoire-matteo-salvini | date=27 May 2019 | newspaper=[[Le Temps]] | access-date=29 May 2019 | language=fr}}</ref> Overall, the European coalition [[Identity and Democracy]], which the Lega is part of, became the fifth-largest group in the newly elected [[European Parliament]].

==Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister (2018–2019)==
{{See also|Conte I Cabinet}}
[[File:Vice President Pence Meets with Italian Deputy Prime Minister (48099761681).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Salvini with U.S. Vice President [[Mike Pence]], in 2019]]
On 1 June 2018, Matteo Salvini was sworn in as [[Deputy Prime Minister of Italy|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[Italian Minister of the Interior|Minister of the Interior]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2018/05/31/governo-conte-ecco-chi-sono-veramente-ministri-dai-politici-come-di-maio-salvini-bonafede-agli-istituzionali-come-moavero-poi-il-prof-di-educazione-fisica-e-il-generale/4381994/|title=Governo Conte, chi sono i ministri: da Di Maio e Salvini (con i fedelissimi) agli "istituzionali" come Moavero. Poi il prof di educazione fisica e il generale che indagò su Terra dei Fuochi – Il Fatto Quotidiano|date=1 June 2018|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> He immediately stated that his main aim was to drastically reduce the [[Immigration to Italy|number of illegal immigrants]] to Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2018/06/01/italia/nasce-il-governo-legams-salvini-e-di-maio-vice-che-pesano-pi-del-premier-iWRvm6d4yZDNTGt1UQwpOO/pagina.html|title=Nasce il governo Lega-M5S: Salvini e Di Maio vice che pesano più del premier|date=June 2018 |access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> Early in his tenure, numerous media outlets noted that despite Salvini's junior status in the governing coalition, he placed himself in a role even more dominant than Conte and appeared to set Italy's agenda.<ref name="FringeToStrongman"/><ref name="SalviniRomaNYT"/><ref name="HuffPo"/><ref name="CombativeFT"/><ref name="Dominating"/> The media also noted Salvini's "savvy social media presence."<ref>{{cite news | last1=Scherer | first1=Steve | title=Chestnuts, swagger and good grammar: how Italy's 'Captain' builds his brand | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-salvini-socialmedia/chestnuts-swagger-and-good-grammar-how-italys-captain-builds-his-brand-idUSKCN1MS1S6 | date=18 October 2018 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/world/europe/matteo-salvini-italy-social-media-nutella-barilla.html|title=Matteo Salvini Likes Nutella and Kittens. It's All Part of a Social Media Strategy.|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|date=4 January 2019|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

Days after taking his oath, the new Interior Minister created a [[International incident|diplomatic incident]] with [[Tunisia]], stating that the country sent Italy only convicts who came to Europe with the sole aim of committing crimes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2018/06/04/tunisia-stunned-by-salvini-on-exporting-convicts-3_c4da5f18-e8c7-450a-aab8-49ff45b8a726.html|title=Tunisia 'stunned' by Salvini on 'exporting convicts' – English|date=4 June 2018}}</ref> The Tunisian government expressed "profound amazement at the remarks of the Italian interior minister regarding immigration."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/04/italys-new-government-diplomatic-row-accusing-tunisia-sending/|title=Italy's new government in diplomatic row after accusing Tunisia of sending 'convicts' in migrant boats|first=Nick|last=Squires|date=4 June 2018|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref>

On 10 June 2018, Salvini announced the closure of Italian [[ports]], stating that "Everyone in Europe is doing their own business, now Italy is also raising its head. Let's stop the business of illegal immigration."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2018/06/11/italia/migranti-litalia-sfida-malta-salvini-chiudiamo-i-porti-bVoFCfoAr11187cT5qJ4rL/pagina.html|title=Migranti, l'Italia sfida Malta. Salvini: chiudiamo i porti|website=LaStampa.it|date=11 June 2018 }}</ref> The vessel ''[[Aquarius (NGO ship)|Aquarius]]'', which is operated jointly by ''[[Médecins Sans Frontières]]'' and ''[[SOS Méditerranée]]'' and carried more than 600 migrants, was refused a port of disembarkation by the Italian authorities despite having been told to rescue the migrants by the same co-ordination centre. The Italian authority told the vessel to ask [[Malta]] to provide a disembarkation port, but Malta has also refused.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/italy-shuts-ports-to-rescue-ship-carrying-over-600-migrants-11401125|title=Malta and Spain offer safe port to stranded migrant ship|website=Sky News}}</ref> On the following day, the new Spanish Prime Minister [[Pedro Sánchez (politician)|Pedro Sánchez]] accepted the disputed migrant ship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44441386|title=Spain to accept disputed migrant ship|date=12 June 2018|work=BBC News}}</ref>

On 16 June 2018, Matteo Salvini said, "These people should know that Italy no longer wants to be any part of this business of clandestine immigration and they will have to look for other ports to go to", adding "As minister and as a father, I take this action for the benefit of all".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20180616-italy-bans-more-migrant-rescue-boats|title=Italy bans more migrant rescue boats|date=16 June 2018}}</ref>

On 18 June 2018, Salvini announced the government would conduct a census of [[Romani people]] in Italy for the purpose of deporting all who are not in the country legally.<ref name="SalviniRomaNYT" /><ref>{{cite news | title=Italy to Compile 'Register' of Roma People: Matteo Salvini | url=https://www.thelocal.it/20180618/italy-register-census-roma-people-matteo-salvini | date=18 June 2018 | website=[[The Local]] | access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Kington | first1=Tom | title=Italian Populist Matteo Salvini Pledges Census of Gypsies | url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/italian-populist-matteo-salvini-pledges-census-of-gypsies-xb7dnrhds | date=18 June 2018 | work=[[The Times]] |location=London | access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/19/italy-coalition-rift-roma-register-matteo-salvini|title=Far-right Italy minister vows 'action' to expel thousands of Roma|first=Stephanie|last=Kirchgaessner|date=19 June 2018|work=The Guardian|location=London}}</ref> However, this measure was criticized as unconstitutional and was opposed by all the opposition parties and also by some members of the M5S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/06/18/news/salvini_rom_censimento-199319863/?ref=RHPPLF-BH-I0-C8-P2-S1.8-T1|title=Salvini shock: "Censimento sui rom, quelli italiani purtroppo ce li dobbiamo tenere". Scontro nel governo, Di Maio: "Incostituzionale"|date=18 June 2018}}</ref>

On 19 June 2018, Salvini announced his intention to conduct a compulsive racial census of Italians to register [[Romani people|Roma people]], while stating that Roma who are Italians could "unfortunately" not be deported. This caused an outcry in Italy since racial registration is forbidden by the Italian constitution. Italian Prime Minister [[Giuseppe Conte]] forced Salvini to drop the proposal. The opposition leader [[Matteo Orfini]] reacted by suggesting Salvini should rather do a "census of racists and fascists".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/italian-prime-minister-giuseppe-conte-dismisses-roma-census-proposal-as-unconstitutional/a-44302357 |title=Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte dismisses Roma census proposal as 'unconstitutional' |date=20 June 2018 |access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Secretary Pompeo and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Salvini Deliver Statements to the Press (48079584451).jpg|thumb|right|Salvini with U.S. Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]], in 2019]]
On 24 September 2018, the Council of Ministers approved the so-called "Salvini Decree", which contained a series of hardline measures that abolished key forms of protection for migrants and made it easier for them to be deported. The decree also suspended the refugee application process of those who were considered "socially dangerous" or who had been convicted of a crime.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/24/italian-government-approves-bill-anti-migrant-measures-matteo-salvini|title=Italian government approves Salvini bill targeting migrants|first=Angela|last=Giuffrida|date=24 September 2018|website=the Guardian}}</ref>

On 12 June 2019, the ''Sea Watch 3'' ship picked up 53 migrants in the Mediterranean off the Libyan coast. ''Sea Watch 3'' rejected an offer to dock at [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], which is considered unsafe by humanitarian organizations, and headed toward Lampedusa. According to a report by the ''[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]'' and NGOs this was the nearest safe harbor per [[maritime law]]. On 14 June, Italy closed its ports to migrant rescue ships. Salvini refused to allow the ship to dock until other European nations had agreed to take the migrants. Ten of the migrants, including children, pregnant women, and those who were ill, were allowed to disembark. On 29 June, without authorization, ship's captain [[Carola Rackete]] decided to dock. The motivation for this was that according to her the passengers were exhausted. Rackete was arrested by the Italian authorities after docking. Matteo Salvini accused Rackete of trying to sink an Italian patrol boat that was attempting to intercept her, calling the incident an act of war and demanding the [[Netherlands]] government intervention. However, on 2 July, Rackete was released from house arrest after a court ruling that she had broken no laws and acted to protect passengers' safety.<ref name="EURONEWS3jul2019">{{cite web |title=Sea Watch captain Carola Rackete released, but controversy rages on |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/07/03/sea-watch-captain-carola-rackete-released-but-controversy-rages-on |website=EuroNews |date=3 July 2019 |access-date=4 July 2019}}</ref>

In August 2019, Salvini announced a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Conte, after growing tensions within the majority.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/Salvini-Subito-in-Aula-poi-le-elezioni-Conte-Dovra-spiegare-le-ragioni-della-crisi-648408f5-df6c-49f8-bf6d-a73532bd60ab.html|title=La Lega presenta al Senato una mozione di sfiducia a Conte. M5S attacca Salvini: "Giullare"|website=rainews|date=9 August 2019 }}</ref> Many political analysts saw the no confidence motion as a move by Salvini to force a call for snap elections where he could become the next Prime Minister of Italy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/09/italys-league-files-no-confidence-motion-prime-minister-inbid/|title=Italy's League files no confidence motion in prime minister in bid to trigger election|first=Nick|last=Squires|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=9 August 2019|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> On 20 August, following the parliamentary debate in which Conte harshly accused Salvini of being a political opportunist who "had triggered the political crisis only to serve his personal interest",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/20/italian-pm-expected-resign-giuseppe-conte|title=Italian PM resigns with attack on 'opportunist' Salvini &#124; World news &#124; The Guardian|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=20 August 2019 }}</ref> the Prime Minister resigned his post to President Mattarella.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/world/europe/italy-pm-giuseppe-conte-resign.html Italy's Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, Resigns, Turning Chaos Into Uncertainty]</ref> Salvini's alleged gambit failed, as Conte successfully negotiated the formation of a [[Conte II Cabinet|new cabinet]] with centre-left [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]].

== Leader of the opposition (2019–2021)==
{{expand section|date=May 2021}}
After the formation of the [[Conte II Cabinet]], Salvini often criticized the new government for its views on immigration.
<ref>{{cite news |title=Italian PM blasts immigration-'obsessive' Salvini as League's election bid falters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-italy-politics-idUKKCN1V5176 |access-date=12 July 2023 |publisher=Reuters|date=15 August 2019}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Italy|COVID-19 pandemic]], he criticized Conte's plans to use the [[European Stability Mechanism]] to boost the economy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Absolutely no to ESM intervention-Salvini |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2020/03/20/coronavirus-absolutely-no-to-esm-intervention-salvini_1bf5bc99-41dd-411d-baa3-2551079fef67.html |access-date=31 May 2021 |publisher=ANSA |date=20 March 2020}}</ref>

== Draghi government (2021–2022)==
{{See also|Draghi Cabinet}}
[[File:Matteo Salvini in 2022.13.jpg|thumb|upright|Salvini in 2022]]
In February 2021, Salvini supported the League joining the [[Draghi Cabinet|national unity government]] of former [[European Central Bank]] president [[Mario Draghi]], together with the [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]], the [[Five Star Movement]], [[Forza Italia]] and other minor centre and centre-left parties.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Roberts | first1=Hannah | title=European League: Matteo Salvini's switch to Team EU | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-league-matteo-salvini-switches-to-team-eu/ | date=12 February 2021 | work=[[Politico]] | access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> This came despite Draghi's vocally pro-Europe stance.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Roberts | first1=Hannah | title=Italy's Draghi to League: Learn to love the euro | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/mario-draghi-to-league-learn-to-love-the-euro-eu/ | date=17 February 2021 | work=[[Politico]] | access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref> The right-wing party [[Brothers of Italy]] led by [[Giorgia Meloni]], a partner of Salvini's League in the centre-right coalition, did not give its support to the Draghi government, making it the major opposition party.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/12/mario-draghis-new-italian-government-to-be-sworn-in-on-saturday |title=Mario Draghi's new government to be sworn in on Saturday |last=Giuffrida |first=Angela |date=12 February 2021 |website=theguardian.com |publisher= |access-date=19 April 2021 |quote=}}</ref>

On 22 October 2021, Salvini was recorded during a closed-door meeting saying that Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party "should remain the opposition without breaking our balls".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Salvini su Meloni: "Stia all'opposizione senza romperci i coglioni"|url=https://www.ilfoglio.it/politica/2021/10/21/video/salvini-su-meloni-stia-all-opposizione-senza-romperci-i-coglioni--3214606/|access-date=25 October 2021|website=www.ilfoglio.it|language=it}}</ref> He also admitted defeat in the [[2021 Italian local elections]], saying that "when you lose disgracefully, lagging by 30 points in some big cities, there is little to celebrate. The centre-right's split in two or three pieces certainly doesn't help."<ref name=":3" /> Salvini later claimed to have laughed about the recording in a WhatsApp exchange with Meloni.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=22 October 2021|title=Italy's Matteo Salvini recorded calling far-right rival a 'pain in the ass'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/22/italy-matteo-salvini-recorded-calling-far-right-rival-pain-in-ass|access-date=25 October 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

== Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister (2022–present) ==
{{See also|Meloni Cabinet}}
On 22 October 2022, [[Giorgia Meloni]], the leader of [[Brothers of Italy]] party, was sworn in as Italy's first female prime minister. Lega leader Matteo Salvini became deputy prime minister in her government. The new government, Italy's most right-wing since World War II, included also centre-right party of ex-prime minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Italy Meloni: Far-right leader agrees to form government |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63327290 |work=BBC News |date=21 October 2022}}</ref>

In April 2024, a vote of no confidence was initiated against Salvini and did not pass.<ref>{{cite web |title=Italy's Matteo Salvini survives no-confidence vote |url=https://www.euronews.com/2024/04/04/italian-deputy-prime-minister-matteo-salvini-survives-no-confidence-vote |website=euronews |access-date=28 July 2024 |language=en |date=4 April 2024}}</ref>

==Legal issues==
Salvini has been targeted in a number of prosecutions surrounding his anti-migration stance as minister which have all been dismissed.

=== First trial for rejecting migrant ship (dismissed) ===
In February 2020, the Senate formally authorized a trial against Salvini over the ''Gregoretti'' Italian coastguard ship case, in which – as Interior Minister at the time – he was accused of kidnapping the rescued migrants by forbidding the ship from docking at the port of [[Augusta, Sicily]].<ref>{{cite news |date=12 February 2020 |title=Italy's far-right leader Salvini to face trial |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51473239 |access-date=7 August 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref> A judge in [[Catania]] dismissed the case in May 2021, ruling that no crime had been committed, the incident was not a kidnapping, and that Salvini's six-day block to allow for other EU countries to resettle the migrants was permissible under international law.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 May 2021 |title=Italian judge drops refugee 'kidnapping' case against Salvini |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/14/italy-judge-rules-against-salvini-trial-over-kidnapping-charge |access-date=31 May 2021 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

=== Second trial for rejecting migrant ship (acquitted) ===
On 30 July 2020, the Senate authorized (by 149 votes against 141) a second trial against Salvini over the [[Proactiva Open Arms|Open Arms]] case, where he was accused of kidnapping migrants after blocking the NGO's rescue ship off the coast of Sicily in August 2019.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 July 2020 |title=Senate authorizes trial for Salvini over Open Arms case |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2020/07/30/senate-authorizes-trial-for-salvini-over-open-arms-case_243aac4f-893c-470c-8d81-66e793d9e489.html |access-date=7 August 2020 |work=ANSA |language=en}}</ref> Salvini defended his actions, stating: "Defending Italy is not a crime. I am proud of it, I would do it again, and I will do it again."<ref>{{cite news |date=30 July 2020 |title=Italy's Salvini to face new trial over migrant ship blockade |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53592852 |access-date=30 July 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

In October 2021, Salvini's second trial on migrant kidnapping charges began in [[Palermo]], Sicily.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2021 |title=Italy's former interior minister Salvini stands trial on migrant kidnapping charges |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211023-italy-s-former-interior-minister-salvini-stands-trial-on-migrant-kidnapping-charges |access-date=25 October 2021 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> The American actor [[Richard Gere]] was called as a witness by Open Arms, having visited their rescue boat in solidarity with the crew and passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2021 |title=Matteo Salvini objects to Richard Gere as witness in kidnap trial |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/23/matteo-salvini-goes-on-trial-for-kidnap-over-blocked-migrant-ship |access-date=25 October 2021 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2024, prosecutors requested a six-year prison sentence for Salvini as part of the trial that began in July 2020. His defense was scheduled for October 18, ahead of the first sentencing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zampano |first1=Giada |date=15 September 2024 |title=Italy's deputy premier Matteo Salvini faces a potential 6-year prison sentence in migration trial |url=https://apnews.com/article/italy-salvini-meloni-migration-open-arms-trial-d144a9c9fa0afb65879171d20a0059ae |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> On 20 December 2024, a court in [[Palermo]] acquitted Matteo Salvini of charges relating to the illegal detention of 100 migrants, which stemmed from his refusal to allow disembarkation from the humanitarian rescue vessel ''[[Open Arms (watercraft)|Open Arms]]'' in [[Lampedusa]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 December 2024 |title=Italian court clears Vice Premier Salvini of illegally detaining migrants on a rescue ship in 2019 |url=https://apnews.com/article/matteo-salvini-italy-migration-trial-rescue-ship-237adf612c6a16e9ed3d3d65a0995b6a |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Other cases ===

==== Instigation against Carola Rackete (dismissed) ====
In May 2021, a preliminary investigations judge dismissed a charge of instigation against Salvini for criticizing a German activist who smuggled migrants into Italy. It was alleged that by calling [[Carola Rackete]] a criminal, he had instigated violence against her.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 May 2021 |title=Salvini Rackete instigation charge dropped |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2021/05/17/salvini-rackete-instigation-charge-dropped_72698511-d53c-4330-86fc-4b885bc2ec05.html |access-date=31 May 2021 |publisher=ANSA}}</ref> The investigation found that he was not responsible for the death threats she received from others.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 May 2021 |title=Rackete case shelved |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2021/05/19/rackete-case-shelved_1502b351-d691-428e-a2e1-dd5a33d14eb5.html |access-date=31 May 2021 |publisher=ANSA}}</ref>

==== Defamation by Carlo De Benedetti (dismissed) ====
Also in May 2021, Salvini accused media magnate [[Carlo De Benedetti]], who had called him an antisemite, of defamation. De Benedetti, who is Jewish, faced trial for his remarks.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 May 2021 |title=De Benedetti on trial for calling Salvini an anti-semite |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2021/05/04/de-benedetti-on-trial-for-calling-salvini-an-anti-semite_e01e73eb-1950-4d8b-b9a5-15f66c562cc4.html |access-date=31 May 2021 |publisher=ANSA}}</ref> At the trial, Salvini denied accusations of anti-semitism and described them as defamatory but defended De Benedetti's right to criticize him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=carlo de benedetti defini’ salvini ‘antisemita’. ora il giudice lo ha assolto dall’accusa di... |url=https://www.dagospia.com/cronache/carlo-de-benedetti-defini-salvini-antisemita-giudice-assolto-407594 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=www.dagospia.com |language=it-IT}}</ref> The case was dismissed and the dismissal was upheld by the court of appeals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-10 |title=La Corte d'Appello dà ragione a De Benedetti: "Salvini antisemita e xenofobo? Diritto di critica" |url=https://www.lavocedialba.it/2024/09/10/leggi-notizia/argomenti/cronaca-17/articolo/la-corte-dappello-da-ragione-a-de-benedetti-salvini-antisemita-e-xenofobo-diritto-di-critica.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=La voce di Alba |language=it-IT}}</ref>

==Political views==
{{Conservatism in Italy|Politicians}}
===Domestic policy===
Salvini has been described as [[hard euroscepticism|hard Eurosceptic]], holding a starkly critical view of the [[European Union]] (EU), especially of the [[euro]], which he once described as a "crime against humanity".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/politica/2013/12/15/Lega-Salvini-contro-euro-Crimine-contro-umanita-_9781968.html |title=Lega, Salvini contro euro: 'Crimine contro l'umanità' – Politica |website=ANSA.it |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> Though in October 2012, he said he supported euro for Northern Italy, whilst Southern Italy should not use it: "I in Milan want it, because here we are in Europe. The South, on the other hand, is like Greece and needs another currency. The euro cannot afford it."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 October 2012 |title=I meridionali stiano "senza l'euro, non se lo meritano" |url=https://www.milanotoday.it/politica/salvini-euro-sud.html |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=MilanoToday |language=it}}</ref> Salvini is also opposed to [[Immigration to Italy|illegal immigration into Italy]] and the EU and the EU's management of asylum seekers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/mondo/lasciate-immigrati-largo-e-scoppia-bufera-su-salvini-1094448.html |title="Lasciate gli immigrati al largo". E scoppia la bufera su Salvini |language=it |website=IlGiornale.it |date=15 February 2015 |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilcittadino.it/Facet/ultimaOra/Uuid/b0d2dbde-bcdd-11e4-85a4-c5f22cb8376c/ |title=Il Cittadino di Lodi |website=Ilcittadino.it |date=25 February 2015 |access-date=3 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305222837/http://ilcittadino.it/facet/ultimaora/uuid/b0d2dbde-bcdd-11e4-85a4-c5f22cb8376c |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}</ref> In September 2018, he said: "I'm paid by citizens to help our young people start having children again the way they did a few years ago, and not to uproot the best of the African youth to replace Europeans who are not having children anymore".<ref>{{cite news |title=Italy's Salvini likens African immigrants to 'slaves' |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-italy-luxembourg/italys-salvini-likens-african-immigrants-to-slaves-idUSKCN1LU1QR |work=Reuters |date=14 September 2018}}</ref> His political views have been described as on the far-right,<ref name="StilleAug2018">{{cite web | last1=Stille | first1=Alexander | title=How Matteo Salvini Pulled Italy to the Far Right | url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/09/how-matteo-salvini-pulled-italy-to-the-far-right | date=9 August 2018 | work=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/italys-other-matteo-salvini-northern-league-politicians-media-effettosalvini/|title=Italy's far right jolts back from dead|date=3 February 2016}}</ref> espousing policies such as, among others, collecting census data on and expelling members of the Roma community living illegally in Italy.<ref name="SalviniRomaNYT"/>

On economic issues, he supports a [[flat tax]], [[tax cut]]s, [[fiscal federalism]], [[protectionism]],<ref>{{cite news|title=I 10 punti del programma ECONOMICO della Lega nero su bianco.|url=http://noiconsalvini.org/10-punti-del-programma-economico-della-lega-nero-su-bianco/|publisher=Libero Quotidiano|date=11 February 2015}}</ref> and, to some extent, [[agrarianism]].{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

On social issues, Salvini opposes [[same-sex marriage]], [[civil union]]s and [[LGBT parenting|adoption]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Unioni civili, Salvini: "Sindaci della Lega Nord, disobbedite". Bitonci (Padova): "Io non celebrerò i matrimoni gay"|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/05/11/unioni-civili-salvini-sindaci-della-lega-nord-disobbedite-bitonci-padova-io-non-celebrero-i-matrimoni-gay/2719210/|date=11 May 2016| access-date=13 September 2021|language=it}}</ref> as well as [[anti-discrimination law]]s,<ref>{{cite web|title="Gli omosessuali in Italia? Non sono discriminati": Meloni e Salvini in piazza contro la legge sull'omofobia minimizzano le aggressioni|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2020/07/16/gli-omosessuali-in-italia-non-sono-discriminati-meloni-e-salvini-in-piazza-contro-la-legge-sullomofobia-minimizzano-le-aggressioni/5870812/|date=16 July 2020| access-date=13 September 2021|language=it}}</ref> while he supports the legalisation of [[brothel]]s.<ref>{{cite book|url= http://noiconsalvini.org/carta-dei-valori/|title= Carta dei Valori|publisher= Noi con Salvini|date= 2015}}</ref> He supports looser gun laws and has pushed that issue as interior minister.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/world/europe/italy-gun-laws-matteo-salvini.html|title=Italy Loosens Gun Laws as Matteo Salvini Polishes His Tough Guy Image|first=Emma|last=Johanningsmeier|date=7 November 2018|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Salvini has criticized [[mandatory vaccination]] laws.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Politi | first1=James | title=Salvini Ramps Up Rhetoric with Attack on Mandatory Vaccines | url=https://www.ft.com/content/e513740e-761a-11e8-b326-75a27d27ea5f |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/uo7rM |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | date=22 June 2018 | newspaper=[[Financial Times]] | access-date=12 August 2018}}</ref>

In 2016, a retweet posted from Salvini's Twitter account called for the shooting of "communist judges". Salvini disowned the retweet, claiming it was posted by a staffer by mistake.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2016/03/11/salvini-disowns-shoot-judges-retweet_0930f3ef-9e95-4b5a-b4d9-d4e25c3fc73a.html |title=Salvini disowns 'shoot judges' retweet |date=11 March 2016 |access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
[[File:Matteo Salvini Quirinale 2021.jpg|thumb|right|Matteo Salvini in 2021]]
In foreign policy he opposed Turkey's [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|accession to the European Union]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Cancel process for Turkey's EU accession – Salvini |url=http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2019/04/08/cancel-process-for-turkeys-eu-accession-salvini_6eedbd43-c1b7-42c0-90ee-eefea0048720.html |work=Ansa |date=8 April 2019}}</ref> criticized [[Saudi Arabia]] for its [[Women's rights in Saudi Arabia|treatment of women]],<ref name="saudi"/> opposed the [[International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War|international sanctions against Russia]] taken in 2014,<ref>{{cite news|title=Russia, Salvini: Ci batteremo per rimuovere sanzioni a Mosca|url=http://www.ilvelino.it/it/article/2015/06/09/russia-salvini-ci-batteremo-per-rimuovere-sanzioni-a-mosca/3de0bb12-ef42-4283-b904-90a3b6e79b3f/|publisher=il Velino|date=9 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lega, Salvini in Russia alla Duma: "No alle sanzioni Ue". E la Padania lo celebra|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/10/15/lega-salvini-in-russia-no-alle-sanzioni-ue-e-la-padania-lo-celebra/1156830/|author=Anna Lesnevskaya|publisher=il Fatto Quotidiano|date=15 October 2014}}</ref> and supported an economic opening to North Korea.<ref>{{cite news|title=Salvini elogia la Corea del Nord|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/salvini-elogia-corea-nord-1048809.html|author=Luisa De Montis|publisher=il Giornale|date=3 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Salvini: la Corea del Nord? C'è uno splendido senso di comunità|url=http://www.corriere.it/cronache/14_settembre_03/salvini-corea-nord-c-splendido-senso-comunita-85754b60-3327-11e4-9d48-ef4163c6635c.shtml|author=Massimo Rebotti|newspaper=Corriere della Sera|date=3 September 2014}}</ref>

Salvini accused France of "stealing wealth" from former [[French colonial empire|African colonies]] and generating mass migration to Europe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Italy's Salvini slams France for migrant crisis: 'I don't take lessons on humanity and generosity from Macron' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/italys-salvini-slams-france-for-migrant-crisis-i-dont-take-lessons-on-humanity-and-generosity-from-macron |work=Fox News |date=22 January 2019}}</ref> He also said that "In [[Libya]] France has no interest in stabilising the situation because it has oil interests opposite to those of Italy."<ref>{{cite news |title=Matteo Salvini accuses France of 'stealing' Africa's wealth |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ebe797c0-1e2f-11e9-b2f7-97e4dbd3580d |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/dwATf |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=Financial Times |date=22 January 2019}}</ref> In the wake of the [[Enrica Lexie case|MV ''Enrica Lexie'' case]], Salvini called for the expulsion of the Indian Ambassador to Italy and a military operation to extract the two detained Italian marines accused by India of the shooting.<ref>{{Cite news|work=[[Il Fatto Quotidiano]]|title=Marò, Salvini: "Bisogna cacciare l'ambasciatore indiano in Italia col primo aereo"|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/03/08/salvini-maro-bisogna-cacciare-lambasciatore-indiano-in-italia-col-primo-aereo/490863/|date=8 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Free|title=Marò, Matteo Salvini's anger: "With me and Silvio Berlusconi the military would already be at home"|date=25 August 2015|url=https://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/politica/11822034/Maro--la-rabbia-di-Matteo.html}}</ref> He later advocated for Italy purchasing Indian [[COVID-19]] vaccines in March 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.giornalediplomatico.it/covid-salvini-vede-ambasciatore-india-per-acollaborazione-vaccinia.htm | title=Covid: Salvini vede ambasciatore India per "collaborazione vaccini" }}</ref>

Salvini supported the [[2017–19 Qatar diplomatic crisis|Saudi-led blockade of Qatar]] prior to taking office on the grounds that [[Qatar and state-sponsored terrorism|Qatar funded terrorism]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilpopulista.it/news/5-Giugno-2017/15125/sostiene-il-terrorismo-qatar-isolato-salvini-subito-controlli-anche-in-italia.html|title="Sostiene il terrorismo", Qatar isolato. Salvini: "Subito controlli anche in Italia"|website=www.ilpopulista.it|access-date=16 August 2018|archive-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606082027/http://www.ilpopulista.it/news/5-Giugno-2017/15125/sostiene-il-terrorismo-qatar-isolato-salvini-subito-controlli-anche-in-italia.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Upon becoming Deputy Prime Minister, he also praised Saudi Arabia as "an element of stability and reliability both in bilateral relations and as an actor in the more general Middle Eastern chessboard", and pledged to expand security, economic, commercial and cultural ties with the Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Arab News]]|title=Italy eyes closer ties with Saudi Arabia|date=19 July 2018|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1341786}}</ref> However, he later reversed his stance, praising Qatar for its "balance" as opposed to Saudi Arabian "extremism"<ref>{{cite news|work=La Presse|date=30 October 2018|title=Salvini: Qatar equilibrato non come Arabia Saudita estremista|url=https://www.lapresse.it/politica/salvini_qatar_equilibrato_non_come_arabia_saudita_estremista-773429/news/2018-10-30/}}</ref> and encouraged Qatari investment in Italy,<ref>{{cite news|work=[[la Repubblica]]|title=Salvini cambia opinione sul Qatar: da fomentatore del terrorismo a opportunità per le imprese italiane|url=https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2018/10/30/foto/salvini_qatar-210416370/1/#1|date=30 October 2018}}</ref> while opposing Saudi investment proposals in Italy<ref name="saudi">{{cite news|work=[[Reuters]]|date=11 March 2019|title=Italy's Salvini urges La Scala to snub Saudi cash|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-saudi-lascala/italys-salvini-urges-la-scala-to-snub-saudi-cash-idUSKBN1QS2EG}}</ref> and condemning the decision to host the [[Supercoppa Italiana]] final in Saudi Arabia as "disgusting".<ref>{{Cite news|work=[[CNN]]|date=3 January 2019|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/03/football/juventus-milan-supercup-saudi-arabia-matteo-salvini-scli-spt-intl/index.html|title=Italian Super Cup: Holding match in Saudi Arabia 'disgusting'}}</ref> Salvini has called for stronger Italian ties with Morocco, describing it as "the most stable country in the entire Mediterranean", and criticising an EU resolution that accused Morocco of using migration as political pressure towards Spain.<ref>{{cite news|work=Middle East Online|url=https://middle-east-online.com/en/salvini-says-morocco-most-stable-country-entire-mediterranean-region|title=Salvini says Morocco most stable country in entire Mediterranean region|date=18 June 2021}}</ref>

Salvini has been critical of Iranian policy towards Israel,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilmetropolitano.it/2019/01/21/iran-salvini-minacce-gravissime-solidarieta-ad-israele/|title=Iran. Salvini: Minacce gravissime, solidarietà ad Israele|date=21 January 2019}}</ref> and expressed scepticism towards the [[Iran nuclear deal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2015/07/20/isis-salviniobama-arruola-liran_e04e7eaf-a7a9-47ce-a378-3166459600e6.html|title=Isis: Salvini, Obama arruola l'Iran? – Ultima Ora|date=20 July 2015|website=ANSA.it}}</ref> However, he prefers dialogue over new [[Sanctions against Iran|sanctions]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oltrelalinea.news/2018/07/16/salvini-contrario-alle-sanzioni-contro-russia-e-iran/|title=Salvini: "Contrario alle sanzioni contro Russia e Iran" • Oltre la Linea|date=16 July 2018|website=Oltre la Linea|access-date=20 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420205612/https://oltrelalinea.news/2018/07/16/salvini-contrario-alle-sanzioni-contro-russia-e-iran/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He considers [[Hezbollah]] a terrorist organisation, contradicting the official stance of the Italian government.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Reuters]]|date=12 December 2018|title=Italy's Salvini criticised by allies for calling Hezbollah "terrorists"|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-salvini-hezbollah/italys-salvini-criticised-by-allies-for-calling-hezbollah-terrorists-idUKKBN1OB1GL}}</ref> He supported [[Status of Jerusalem|recognition of Jerusalem]] as the capital of Israel,<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Haaretz]]|date=23 July 2018|title=For Many Italian Jews, Far-right Parties No Longer Getting a Pass for Being pro-Israel|url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium-italian-jews-finally-take-stand-against-far-right-pro-israel-parties-1.6302183}}</ref> and in January 2020, he stated his support for moving Italy's embassy in Israel to the city.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Tercatin | first1=Rossella | title=Italy's Salvini to recognize Jerusalem as capital if elected | url=https://www.jpost.com/International/Italian-opposition-leader-vows-to-recognize-Jerusalem-as-capital-if-elected-614674 | date=20 January 2020 | work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] | access-date=21 January 2020}}</ref> On 12 December 2018, the Prime Minister of Israel, [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], hailed him as a "great friend of Israel".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://apnews.com/d4fc90ecaab24660bb359ab1c686d3ff | title = Netanyahu hails Italy's Salvini as 'great friend of Israel' | date = 12 December 2018 | publisher = Associated Press | location = Jerusalem | archive-url = https://archive.today/20200510124459/https://apnews.com/d4fc90ecaab24660bb359ab1c686d3ff | archive-date = 10 May 2020 | url-status = live | access-date = 16 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first1 = Herb | last1 = Keinon | url = https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/netanyahu-stopping-hezbollah-is-responsibility-of-international-community-574129 | title = Netanyahu: Matteo Salvini is 'great friend of Israel' | date = 12 December 2018 | journal = The Jerusalem Post | archive-url = https://archive.today/20200510124540/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/netanyahu-stopping-hezbollah-is-responsibility-of-international-community-574129 | archive-date = 10 May 2020 | url-status = live | access-date = 16 May 2020 }}</ref> Following the [[2023 Hamas attack on Israel|Hamas attacks]] in October 2023, Salvini accused the Italian branch of [[Amnesty International]] of "racism" for refusing to attend a [[Lucca Comics & Games|comic and games festival]], due to Israel's Embassy in Italy having sponsored the event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-29 |title=Salvini in spat with Amnesty over Israel |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2023/10/29/salvini-in-spat-with-amnesty-over-israel_2a4115eb-d8b8-4521-97f5-518f0ae8e167.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=ANSA.it}}</ref> Salvini also condemned [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Erdoğan's]] labeling of Hamas as "liberators", saying such claims "do not help de-escalation".<ref>{{cite web |title=Erdogan's praise of Hamas disgusting says Salvini |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/erdogans-praise-of-hamas-disgusting-says-salvini/ar-AA1iOZLa |website=www.msn.com |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref>

Salvini also endorsed the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 U.S. presidential election]], [[Donald Trump]], whom he met in April 2016 in [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/16_aprile_26/trump-incorona-salvini-1427cf18-0b7b-11e6-a8d3-4c904844517f.shtml|title=E Trump incorona Salvini:"Diventerai premier in Italia"|date=26 April 2016}}</ref> Multiple news agencies have compared him and his views to those of Trump.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/22/matteo-salvini-a-political-chameleon-thriving-on-fears|title=Matteo Salvini: a political chameleon thriving on fears|first=Stephanie|last=Kirchgaessner|date=22 June 2018|website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Scherer | first1=Steve | title=Echoes of Trump as Italy's Salvini Gets Tough on Migrants | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-italy-salvini/echoes-of-trump-as-italys-salvini-gets-tough-on-migrants-idUSKBN1JM24H | date=26 June 2018 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref> In September 2018, Salvini pledged his support for [[The Movement (populist group)|The Movement]], a European populist group founded by Trump's former chief strategist, [[Steve Bannon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/08/italy-matteo-salvini-joins-steve-bannon-european-populist-group-movement|title=Italy's Matteo Salvini joins Bannon's European populist group|last=Tondo|first=Lorenzo|date=8 September 2018|website=The Guardian|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref>

Salvini condemned the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and said he wanted to help [[2022 Ukrainian refugee crisis|Ukrainian refugees]] and support the countries that accepted them.<ref name="Euractiv"/> In the past, however, he praised Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Matteo Salvini prova a dimenticare il suo passato di fan di Putin. Glielo ricordiamo noi |url=https://espresso.repubblica.it/politica/2022/02/24/news/matteo_salvini_prova_a_dimenticare_il_suo_passato_di_fan_di_putin_glielo_ricordiamo_noi-339095906/ |work=[[L'Espresso]] |date=24 February 2022}}</ref> and took a picture of himself wearing a T-shirt with Putin's face in Moscow. In response to the criticism, he said he preferred Putin to the Italian President [[Sergio Mattarella]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amante |first=Angelo |date=8 March 2022 |title=Changing tune, Italy's Salvini pledges to help refugees from Ukraine |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/changing-tune-italys-salvini-pledges-help-refugees-ukraine-2022-03-08/ |access-date=8 March 2022}}</ref> He was confronted for his past support of Putin by [[Wojciech Bakun]], the mayor of a Polish town [[Przemyśl]], while visiting its refugee center during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amante |first=Angelo |date=8 March 2022 |title=Friend of Putin Salvini confronted at the Border|language=en |agency=Reuters |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/friend-putin-salvini-confronted-border-visit-83316500 |access-date=8 March 2022}}</ref>

In September 2018, Salvini endorsed conservative nationalist candidate [[Jair Bolsonaro]] in the [[2018 Brazilian general election|Brazilian presidential election]] that year.<ref>{{Cite news|work=[[Terra (company)|Terra]]|date=8 October 2018|url=https://www.terra.com.br/noticias/mundo/salvini-comemora-resultado-de-bolsonaro-novos-ares,32f9fd50050a7718bfdf57513905106atova37hu.html|title=Nacionalista italiano Salvini comemora vitória de Bolsonaro|language=pt-BR}}</ref> In May 2021, he spoke at the congress of the Portuguese nationalist party [[Chega (political party)|Chega]], saying that he wanted to unite Europe's populists, conservatives and identitarians against socialists and communists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Salvini sonha agregar na Europa populares, conservadores e identitários |url=https://www.publico.pt/2021/05/30/politica/noticia/salvini-sonha-agregar-europa-populares-conservadores-identitarios-1964665 |access-date=31 May 2021 |work=[[Público (Portugal)|Público]] |date=30 May 2021 |language=Portuguese}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 2001, Matteo Salvini married Fabrizia Ieluzzi, a journalist who worked for a private radio station, by whom he had one child in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/interni/salvini-comunista-padano-che-milano-d-sangue-968284.html|title=Salvini, il comunista padano che per Milano dà il sangue|first=Giancarlo|last=Perna|website=ilGiornale.it|date=18 November 2013 }}</ref> After his divorce he had a daughter by his [[domestic partner]] Giulia Martinelli in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.adnkronos.com/IGN/News/Politica/Lega-Matteo-Salvini-e-il-nuovo-segretario-del-Carroccio-Scheda_32962945732.html|title=Adnkronos|website=www1.adnkronos.com}}</ref> He later became engaged to [[Elisa Isoardi]], a popular TV host.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dilei.it/vip/elisa-isoardi-matteo-salvini-instagram/546863/|title="Muoio dalla voglia di rivederti": la dedica d'amore di Elisa Isoardi per Salvini|date=1 June 2018}}</ref> After a relationship of nearly three years, Isoardi announced their split in November 2018 via an Instagram post.<ref>{{cite news|title = Isoardi annuncia la rottura con Salvini: "Con Matteo è finita". Lui replica: "Peccato, qualcuno aveva altre priorità"|newspaper = [[La Repubblica]]|date =5 November 2018|url = https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/11/05/news/isoardi_salvini_rottura_finita_instagram-210819069/|access-date = 6 November 2018}}</ref> As of March 2019, Salvini is engaged to Francesca Verdini, daughter of the politician [[Denis Verdini]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.firenzetoday.it/attualita/chi-e-francesca-verdini-fidanzata-salvini.html|title=Francesca Verdini è la nuova fidanzata di Matteo Salvini|website=FirenzeToday}}</ref> Salvini is nicknamed "The Captain" (''Il Capitano'') by his supporters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2018/03/06/italia/il-capitano-salvini-studia-da-premier-orgoglioso-di-essere-populista-q9Y7idqyf8yc3mPmttMdxJ/pagina.html|title=Il Capitano Salvini studia da premier: "Orgoglioso di essere populista"|website=LaStampa.it|date=6 March 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilpopulista.it/news/18-Dicembre-2016/8332/il-capitano-a-palermo-salvini-uno-di-noi.html|title=Il Capitano a Palermo. "Salvini, uno di noi"|website=www.ilpopulista.it|access-date=18 May 2018|archive-date=11 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211130842/http://www.ilpopulista.it/news/18-Dicembre-2016/8332/il-capitano-a-palermo-salvini-uno-di-noi.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Matteo Salvini is a [[Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Italy plans MANDATORY crucifixes in public buildings – with a £890 fine for non-compliance|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/994234/italy-news-crucifix-law-matteo-salvini-christian-news|website=express.co.uk|date=25 July 2018 }}</ref>

A long time resident of Milan, Salvini is an avid supporter of local football club [[AC Milan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matteosalvini.eu/rassegna-stampa/comunque-vada-ringrazio-dio-di-avermi-fatto-milanista.html|title=Matteo Salvini|website=www.matteosalvini.eu|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221084201/http://www.matteosalvini.eu/rassegna-stampa/comunque-vada-ringrazio-dio-di-avermi-fatto-milanista.html|archive-date=21 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{|class=wikitable style="width:55%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid"
|-
! width=12%|Election
! width=25%|House
! width=25%|Constituency
! width=5% colspan="2"|Party
! width=12%|Votes
! width=12%|Result
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in Italy|2004]]
| [[European Parliament]]
| [[North-West Italy (European Parliament constituency)|North-West Italy]]
| bgcolor="{{party color|Lega Nord}}" |
| [[Lega Nord|LN]]
| 14,707
| {{tick|15}} '''Elected'''
|-
! [[2008 Italian general election|2008]]
| [[Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber of Deputies]]
| [[Lombardy|Lombardy 1]]
| bgcolor="{{party color|Lega Nord}}" |
| [[Lega Nord|LN]]
| –{{efn|name=fn1|Elected in a [[closed list]] proportional representation system.}}
| {{tick|15}} '''Elected'''
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in Italy|2009]]
| [[European Parliament]]
| [[North-West Italy (European Parliament constituency)|North-West Italy]]
| bgcolor="{{party color|Lega Nord}}" |
| [[Lega Nord|LN]]
| 69,989
| {{tick|15}} '''Elected'''
|-
! [[2013 Italian general election|2013]]
| [[Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate of the Republic]]
| [[Lombardy|Lombardy 1]]
| bgcolor="{{party color|Lega Nord}}" |
| [[Lega Nord|LN]]
| –{{efn|name=fn1}}
| {{tick|15}} '''Elected'''
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Italy|2014]]
| [[European Parliament]]
| [[North-West Italy (European Parliament constituency)|North-West Italy]]
| bgcolor="{{party color|Lega Nord}}" |
| [[Lega Nord|LN]]
| 223,410
| {{tick|15}} '''Elected'''
|-
! [[2018 Italian general election|2018]]
| [[Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate of the Republic]]
| [[Lazio]]
| bgcolor="{{party color|Lega Nord}}" |
| [[Lega (political party)|Lega]]
| –{{efn|name=fn1}}
| {{tick|15}} '''Elected'''
|-
! [[2022 Italian general election|2022]]
| [[Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate of the Republic]]
| [[Apulia]]
| bgcolor="{{party color|Lega Nord}}" |
| [[Lega (political party)|Lega]]
| –{{efn|name=fn1}}
| {{tick|15}} '''Elected'''
|}

==See also==
* [[Sardines movement]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{MEP}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Roberto Maroni]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Federal Secretaries of Lega Nord|Federal Secretary of the League]]|years=2013–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-off}}
|-
{{s-vac|last=[[Angelino Alfano]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of Italy]]|years=2018–2019|alongside=[[Luigi Di Maio]]}}
{{s-vac|next=[[Antonio Tajani]] & Himself}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Marco Minniti]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Italian Minister of the Interior|Minister of the Interior]]|years=2018–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Luciana Lamorgese]]}}
{{s-vac|last=Himself & [[Luigi Di Maio]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of Italy]]|years=2022–present|alongside=[[Antonio Tajani]]}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Enrico Giovannini]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport|Minister of Infrastructure and Transport]]|years=2022–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{Matteo Salvini}}
{{Deputy Prime Ministers of Italy}}
{{Italian Ministers of the Interior}}
{{Meloni Cabinet}}
{{Conte I Cabinet}}
{{Leaders of the North League}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Salvini, Matteo}}
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