padania

Padania is a term used to denote a geographic and political concept associated with Northern Italy, derived from Padus, the Latin name for the Po River. In geographic usage, Padania roughly corresponds to the Po Valley and its hinterlands, a broad belt across northern Italy that includes productive regions such as Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna, with some interpretations extending to adjacent areas in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Politically, Padania has been employed as a project by regionalist movements, most prominently the Lega Nord (Northern League). Proponents used Padania to refer to a distinct northern Italian macro-region and argued for greater autonomy or even independence, on the basis of perceived economic and social differences with the southern part of the country. The concept has been associated with calls for federal reforms, revenue sharing, and changes in regional governance.

History and reception: The term was popularized by political thinkers such as Gianfranco Miglio and later by Lega Nord founders like Umberto Bossi. It gained prominence in the 1990s and 2000s as part of regionalist rhetoric, but remained controversial and contested within Italy, generating debate about regional identities and national cohesion.

Contemporary status: Since the 2010s, the Lega redirected its branding and activities toward broader national politics while maintaining a regionalist ethos. Padania as a formal political program has become less central in official policy, though regional identity and discussions about autonomy persist in cultural and political discourse.