Rise of Salvini: 33 Years of Pontida’s Political Journey to Prime Minister
On September 17, 2023, the Italian far-right party Lega Nord, led by Matteo Salvini, celebrated the 33rd anniversary of its annual rally in Pontida, Lombardy. The rally, which draws tens of thousands of supporters, is a key event in the Lega Nord’s calendar, and it has played an important role in the party’s rise to power.
The Lega Nord was founded in 1989 by Umberto Bossi, a former Christian Democrat who became disillusioned with the traditional Italian parties. The party quickly gained popularity in northern Italy, where it campaigned for greater autonomy from Rome.
In the early 1990s, the Lega Nord adopted a more radical stance, and it began to call for the secession of northern Italy from the rest of the country. The party also began to use increasingly anti-immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric.
In 1998, the Lega Nord entered into a coalition government with the center-right Forza Italia party. However, the coalition collapsed after a few months, and the Lega Nord went into opposition.
In 2013, the Lega Nord formed a new coalition government with the Five Star Movement party. However, this coalition also collapsed after a few months, and the Lega Nord went back into opposition.
In 2018, the Lega Nord became the largest party in the Italian Parliament. However, it was unable to form a government on its own, and it entered into a coalition government with the Five Star Movement party.
In 2019, the Lega Nord left the government coalition, and Salvini became Prime Minister of Italy. However, Salvini’s government was short-lived, and he was forced to resign after a few months.
The Lega Nord has been criticized for its far-right ideology and its anti-immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric. However, the party remains popular in northern Italy, and it is likely to continue to play an important role in Italian politics.
The Pontida rally
The Pontida rally is the Lega Nord’s most important annual event. The rally is held in a meadow near the town of Pontida, in Lombardy. The rally typically draws tens of thousands of supporters, and it is a key opportunity for the Lega Nord to promote its message and to connect with its base of support.
The Pontida rally is also a key moment in the Lega Nord’s internal calendar. The rally is often used by the party’s leadership to launch new policies and to announce new candidates for elections.
The Lega Nord’s rise to power
The Lega Nord has been one of the most successful far-right parties in Europe in recent years. The party has benefited from a number of factors, including:
The decline of the traditional Italian parties, such as the Christian Democrats and the Socialists.
The rise of Euroscepticism in Italy.
The growing popularity of anti-immigrant and xenophobic sentiment.
The Lega Nord’s success has been particularly pronounced in northern Italy. The party has been able to capitalize on the region’s long-standing sense of separatism and its dissatisfaction with the central government in Rome.
The future of the Lega Nord
The Lega Nord is likely to continue to play an important role in Italian politics in the years to come. The party has a strong base of support in northern Italy, and it is likely to remain a major force in the Italian Parliament.
However, the Lega Nord is facing a number of challenges. The party is increasingly divided between its moderate and radical wings. The party is also facing competition from other far-right parties, such as the Brothers of Italy party.
Despite these challenges, the Lega Nord remains a powerful force in Italian politics. The party is likely to continue to play a major role in shaping the future of Italy.
The Lega Nord has come a long way since its founding in 1989. The party has grown from a small regional party to a major force in Italian politics. The Lega Nord’s annual rally in Pontida has played an important role in the party’s rise to power.
The Lega Nord is likely to continue to play an important role in Italian politics in the years to come. However, the party is facing a number of challenges, such as internal divisions and competition from other far-right parties. It remains to be seen whether the Lega Nord will be able to overcome these challenges and maintain its position as one of the leading parties in Italian politics.