Salvini

Matteo Salvini (born 9 March 1973) is an Italian politician and leader of the Lega party. Since October 2022 he has served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport in Giorgia Meloni's government. From 2018 to 2019 he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior in the Conte II government, pursuing a strict immigration and security agenda.

Born in Milan, Salvini began his political career with Lega Nord and rose through local and regional ranks. He was a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009 and, in 2013, became federal secretary of Lega Nord, steering the party toward a broader national footprint and the rebranding to Lega.

Under his leadership, Lega transformed from a regional party into a national, right-wing populist force advocating tighter immigration controls, Euroscepticism, and federal reforms. The party has often been part of center-right coalitions and has grown in national influence.

As interior minister, Salvini emphasized border control, ship interdiction, and migration restrictions, drawing both support and criticism. In the 2022 elections he remained a central figure in the center-right and subsequently joined the government as Infrastructure and Transport minister.

Salvini is considered a leading figure of nationalist and populist strands in Italian politics. Supporters credit him for prioritizing security and sovereignty, while opponents criticize his rhetoric as polarizing. He remains a prominent political actor and a central figure within Lega.