It’s a political party born in 1989 as the Northern League for the Independence of Padania, pushing for autonomy for Italy’s northern regions. The League then served in the Berlusconi governments from 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2011. For years, known as the Northern League, it derided residents of Italy’s south as beggars, thieves and good-for-nothing rednecks. And for now, Salvini has his sights on registering a strong League outcome in the European Parliament elections next May. In the recent turmoil over Italy’s fiscal targets, the League pressed for a wider budget deficit to fund its key campaign promises.

Source: Washington Post October 01, 2018 04:52 UTC