Matteo Salvini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matteo Salvini
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Salvini in 2019
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| Deputy Prime Minister of Italy | |
| Assumed office 22 October 2022 Serving with Antonio Tajani
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| Prime Minister | Giorgia Meloni |
| Preceded by | Himself and Luigi Di Maio (2019) |
| In office 1 June 2018 – 5 September 2019 Serving with Luigi Di Maio
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| Prime Minister | Giuseppe Conte |
| Preceded by | Angelino Alfano (2014) |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Tajani and Himself (2022) |
| Minister of Infrastructure and Transport | |
| Assumed office 22 October 2022 |
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| Prime Minister | Giorgia Meloni |
| Preceded by | Enrico Giovannini |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 1 June 2018 – 5 September 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Giuseppe Conte |
| Preceded by | Marco Minniti |
| Succeeded by | Luciana Lamorgese |
| Federal Secretary of the League | |
| Assumed office 15 December 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Roberto Maroni |
| Member of the Senate of the Republic | |
| Assumed office 23 March 2018 |
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| Constituency | Lazio (2018–2019) Calabria (2019–present) |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 14 July 2009 – 22 March 2018 |
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| Constituency | North-West Italy |
| In office 20 July 2004 – 7 November 2006 |
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| Constituency | North-West Italy |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 6 March 2013 – 15 March 2013 |
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| Constituency | Lombardy 1 |
| In office 29 April 2008 – 13 July 2009 |
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| Constituency | Lombardy 1 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 March 1973 Milan, Italy |
| Political party | Lega |
| Other political affiliations |
Lega Nord Us with Salvini (2014–2017) |
| Spouse |
Fabrizia Ieluzzi
(m. 2001; div. 2010) |
| Domestic partners | Giulia Martinelli (2011–2014) Elisa Isoardi (2015–2018) Francesca Verdini (2019–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Signature |  |
Matteo Salvini (born 9 March 1973) is an Italian politician. He has been the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport since 2022. He is also the leader of Italy's Lega party since 2013. Salvini has been an Italian senator since 2018. He also served as a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2018.
Salvini is known for his strong views on the European Union. He is critical of the EU, especially the euro currency. He also opposes illegal immigration to Italy and the EU. He believes the EU should manage asylum seekers differently. Many people see him as a key leader of the populist movement in Europe. This movement focuses on national interests and protecting local jobs.
During his first time as deputy prime minister, many news sources called him a very important politician in Italy. Salvini has spoken out against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, he had previously praised Russia's president Vladimir Putin. In 2019, he called Putin "the best politician and statesman in the world."
Contents
- Early Life and Education
- Start of Political Career
- Leader of Lega Nord
- Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister (2018–2019)
- Leader of the Opposition (2019–2021)
- Draghi Government (2021–2022)
- Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister (2022–present)
- Political Views
- Personal Life
- Electoral History
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and Education
Matteo Salvini was born in Milan, Italy, in 1973. His father was a business executive, and his mother was a homemaker. When he was 12, he appeared on an Italian game show called Doppio slalom. Later, at age 20, he was on another show called Il pranzo è servito.
Salvini went to the Classical Lyceum "Alessandro Manzoni" in Milan. He then studied at the University of Milan. He first studied political science and later changed to history. However, he stopped his studies to begin his political career. He never finished his university degree.
Salvini has sometimes mentioned visiting a left-wing social center called Centro Sociale Leoncavallo. He wrote in his autobiography that he went there only once for a concert. He said he was not interested in politics at that time.
Start of Political Career
In 1990, Salvini joined the Lega Nord party. This party focused on regional interests and wanted more independence for northern Italy. He was active in the Young Padanians Movement, which was the youth group of Lega Nord. He became a leader for this group in Milan.
In 1997, he started working as a journalist for La Padania. This was the official newspaper of Lega Nord. He also worked for the party's radio station, Radio Padania Libera. By 2003, he was a registered professional journalist in Italy.
In 1993, Salvini was elected to the City Council of Milan. He served in this role until 2012. In 1999, during a visit by the Italian President, Salvini refused to shake his hand. He stated that the President did not represent him.
Serving in Europe and Local Leadership
Salvini was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 2004. He represented Northwestern Italy. In the European Parliament, he was part of the Non-Inscrits group. He served on the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education.
In 2006, he left his role as an MEP. He was then re-elected to the Milan city council. In the same year, he became a deputy leader of the Lega Lombarda party. He also became the party leader in the city council.
He was re-elected as an MEP in 2009. In the European Parliament, he joined the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group. He worked on committees related to trade and consumer protection. He was also part of delegations for relations with India and South Africa.
In 2012, Salvini became the leader of the Lombard League. He left his city council role after 19 years. He was also elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 2013. However, he resigned to keep his position as an MEP.
After the 2014 European election, he rejoined the Non-Inscrits group. In 2015, he helped create a new group called the Europe of Nations and Freedom. This group included parties like the French National Front.
Leader of Lega Nord
In 2013, Roberto Maroni, the leader of Lega Nord, announced he would step down. Salvini decided to run for the party's leadership. He won the election with 82% of the votes. His election was confirmed in Turin.
Under Salvini, the party became very critical of the European Union. He called the euro currency a "crime against humanity." Before the 2014 European Parliament election, Salvini worked with leaders like Marine Le Pen from France.
In April 2014, Salvini changed the party's logo for the European election. The new logo said Basta Euro ("No more Euro"). This showed the party's strong belief in leaving the Eurozone. The party also included candidates from other anti-euro groups.
In the European Parliament election, the party received 6.2% of the votes. This was less than in 2009 but better than in the 2013 general election. The party did very well in regions like Veneto and Lombardy. Salvini celebrated this success.
The party's popularity grew steadily. A poll in December 2014 showed that Salvini's approval rating increased. This showed he was becoming a stronger political force in Italy.
On 28 February 2015, Salvini led a protest in Rome. The protest was against illegal immigration. In March 2015, a leader named Flavio Tosi was removed from the party. This happened after disagreements about the upcoming regional election in Veneto.
Despite these issues, the 2015 regional elections were a success for Lega Nord. In Veneto, Luca Zaia was re-elected with over 50% of the votes. The party also did well in other regions like Liguria and Tuscany.
After the 2016 local elections, some party members criticized Salvini. They felt the party was focusing too much on the South. They wanted to return to the party's original focus on northern Italy.
Before the 2017 leadership election, Salvini aimed to become the leader of the entire centre-right in Italy. He also considered changing the party's name by removing "Northern."
2018 General Election Success
On 21 December 2017, Salvini showed the new election logo for Lega Nord. For the first time, the party ran in all parts of Italy. The logo did not include the word "Northern."
The League had great success in the 2018 general election. It became the third-largest party in Italy with 17.4% of the votes. The party won many votes in the North. It also gained support in Central and Southern Italy.
The League became the party with the most votes in the centre-right coalition. This meant Salvini was seen as the leader of the coalition. The centre-right won many seats, but no single party or group had a clear majority. This led to a hung parliament.
After the election, Salvini and Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement, both said they should form the new government. On 6 March, Salvini said his party would not join a coalition with the Five Star Movement.
On 24 March, the centre-right and Five Star Movement agreed on electing the presidents of Parliament. This was a step towards forming a government.
After more talks, President Sergio Mattarella confirmed there was no clear majority. The Five Star Movement did not want to work with the whole centre-right. The Democratic Party did not want to work with either. The League did not want to join a government without Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia.
Mattarella then suggested a "neutral government" or an early election. The League and Five Star Movement agreed to new elections in July. However, other parties did not agree.
On 9 May, Salvini and Di Maio asked for more time to form a government. Silvio Berlusconi said his party would not support a Five Star Movement – League government. But he would still keep the centre-right alliance. This opened the door for a government between the League and Five Star Movement.
On 13 May, the two parties agreed on a government plan. But they could not agree on who would be prime minister. They asked President Mattarella for another week to decide.
On 21 May 2018, Di Maio and Salvini suggested Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister. Conte was a professor of private law. On 23 May, Conte was asked to form a new government. He said he would be the "defense lawyer of the Italian people."
However, on 27 May, Conte gave up his role. This was due to disagreements between Salvini and President Mattarella. Salvini wanted Paolo Savona to be Minister of Economy and Finances. But Mattarella strongly disagreed.
Mattarella said the two parties wanted Italy to leave the Eurozone. As the protector of the Italian Constitution, he could not allow this. He also said leaving the euro was not discussed during the election campaign.
The next day, Mattarella asked Carlo Cottarelli to form a new government. Cottarelli was a former director of the International Monetary Fund. However, most parties said they would not support Cottarelli.
On 31 May, the Five Star Movement and the League reached a new agreement. Paolo Savona would not be finance minister. Instead, he would be Minister of European Affairs. Giuseppe Conte would still be the prime minister.
Party Changes
In 2018, the League started a new membership drive in central and southern Italy. This new group was called "League for Salvini Premier" (LSP). This group might eventually replace both Lega Nord and the "Us with Salvini" movement. The party's groups in Parliament were also renamed "League–Salvini Premier."
In September 2022, some League committees wanted to replace Salvini as Secretary. In October, the party's founder, Umberto Bossi, started the "Northern Committee." This group openly challenged Salvini's leadership.
European Politics
Before the 2019 European Parliament election, Salvini worked to create a group of nationalist parties across Europe. He continued these efforts after the election. On 8 April 2019, he founded the European Alliance of Peoples and Nations.
In the European elections in Italy, the League won the most votes for the first time in a national election. They gained over 34% of the votes. This made Salvini's position in Italy stronger. The European group Identity and Democracy, which the League joined, became the fifth-largest group in the European Parliament.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister (2018–2019)
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On 1 June 2018, Matteo Salvini became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior. He quickly stated that his main goal was to greatly reduce the number of illegal immigrants in Italy. Many news outlets noted that Salvini seemed to be setting Italy's agenda. They also noted his smart use of social media.
Soon after taking office, Salvini caused a diplomatic incident with Tunisia. He said Tunisia sent Italy only criminals. The Tunisian government was very surprised by his comments.
On 10 June 2018, Salvini announced that Italian ports would be closed. He said, "Everyone in Europe is doing their own business, now Italy is also raising its head. Let's stop the business of illegal immigration." The ship Aquarius, carrying over 600 migrants, was not allowed to dock in Italy. Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, later accepted the ship.
On 16 June 2018, Salvini said, "These people should know that Italy no longer wants to be any part of this business of clandestine immigration." He added, "As minister and as a father, I take this action for the benefit of all."
On 18 June 2018, Salvini announced the government would count Romani people in Italy. The goal was to deport those who were not in the country legally. This plan was criticized as being against the Italian constitution. Many parties and even some members of the Five Star Movement opposed it. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte forced Salvini to drop the idea.
On 24 September 2018, the government approved the "Salvini Decree." This law made it harder for migrants to get protection. It also made it easier to deport them.
On 12 June 2019, the Sea Watch 3 ship picked up 53 migrants. The ship headed towards Lampedusa, which was considered the nearest safe harbor. Italy closed its ports to migrant rescue ships. Salvini refused to let the ship dock until other European countries agreed to take the migrants.
On 29 June, the ship's captain, Carola Rackete, decided to dock without permission. She said the passengers were exhausted. Italian authorities arrested Rackete. Salvini accused her of trying to sink an Italian patrol boat. However, on 2 July, Rackete was released. A court ruled she had not broken any laws and acted to protect passengers.
In August 2019, Salvini called for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Conte. This happened because of growing tensions within the government. Many thought Salvini wanted new elections to become prime minister himself. On 20 August, Conte resigned after criticizing Salvini. Salvini's plan did not work. Conte then formed a new government with the Democratic Party.
Leader of the Opposition (2019–2021)
After the Conte II Cabinet was formed, Salvini often criticized the new government. He disagreed with their views on immigration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also criticized plans to use European funds to help the economy.
Draghi Government (2021–2022)
In February 2021, Salvini supported the League joining the national unity government. This government was led by former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi. It included many different parties, even those with different views. The right-wing party Brothers of Italy, led by Giorgia Meloni, did not support this government. They became the main opposition party.
Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister (2022–present)
On 22 October 2022, Giorgia Meloni became Italy's first female prime minister. She is the leader of the Brothers of Italy party. Lega leader Matteo Salvini became deputy prime minister in her government. This new government is considered Italy's most right-wing since World War II. It also includes the centre-right party of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
In April 2024, a vote of no confidence was started against Salvini. However, it did not pass.
Political Views
Domestic Policy
Salvini is known for being very critical of the European Union (EU). He especially dislikes the euro currency, calling it a "crime against humanity." He is also against illegal immigration to Italy and the EU. He believes the EU handles asylum seekers poorly. His political ideas are often described as far-right. For example, he has suggested counting and removing Romani people who are in Italy illegally.
On money matters, he supports a flat tax. This means everyone pays the same percentage of their income in taxes. He also supports tax cuts and protectionism. Protectionism means protecting local businesses from foreign competition.
On social issues, Salvini does not support same-sex marriage or civil unions. He also opposes adoption by same-sex couples. He has criticized laws that make vaccinations required.
Foreign Policy
In foreign policy, Salvini has opposed Turkey joining the European Union. He has criticized Saudi Arabia for how it treats women. He was against the international economic restrictions on Russia in 2014. He also supported opening up trade with North Korea.
Salvini has accused France of taking wealth from its former African colonies. He believes this causes many people to move to Europe. He also said France does not want peace in Libya because of its oil interests.
Salvini supported the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar before he took office. After becoming Deputy Prime Minister, he praised Saudi Arabia. He called it a stable and reliable country. He promised to improve security, economic, and cultural ties with Saudi Arabia. However, he later changed his mind. He praised Qatar and encouraged its investments in Italy. He also opposed Saudi investments and criticized hosting a football final in Saudi Arabia.
Salvini wants stronger ties with Morocco. He called it "the most stable country in the entire Mediterranean." He criticized an EU decision that said Morocco used migration to pressure Spain.
Salvini has been critical of Iran's policy towards Israel. He was doubtful about the Iran nuclear deal. However, he prefers talking over new sanctions. He considers Hezbollah a terrorist group. This is different from the official view of the Italian government. He supports recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In 2020, he said he supported moving Italy's embassy to Jerusalem. In 2018, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, called him a "great friend of Israel."
Salvini also supported Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He met Trump in April 2016. Many news agencies have compared Salvini and his views to Trump's. In 2018, Salvini supported The Movement. This is a European populist group started by Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon.
Salvini spoke out against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. He said he wanted to help Ukrainian refugees. In the past, he praised Russian president Vladimir Putin. He even wore a T-shirt with Putin's face in Moscow. He said he preferred Putin to the Italian President Sergio Mattarella. He was confronted about his past support for Putin by a Polish mayor while visiting a refugee center.
In September 2018, Salvini supported Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro was a conservative candidate in the Brazilian presidential election. In May 2021, Salvini spoke at a meeting of the Portuguese nationalist party Chega. He said he wanted to unite Europe's populist and conservative groups.
Personal Life
In 2001, Matteo Salvini married Fabrizia Ieluzzi, a journalist. They had one child in 2003. After their divorce, he had a daughter with Giulia Martinelli in 2012. He was later engaged to Elisa Isoardi, a TV host. They broke up in 2018. As of March 2019, Salvini is engaged to Francesca Verdini. His supporters call him "The Captain" (Il Capitano).
Matteo Salvini is a Roman Catholic. He lives in Milan and is a big fan of the local football club AC Milan.
Electoral History
| Election | House | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result | |
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| 2004 | European Parliament | North-West Italy | LN | 14,707 |  Elected |
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| 2008 | Chamber of Deputies | Lombardy 1 | LN | – | Elected |
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| 2009 | European Parliament | North-West Italy | LN | 69,989 | Elected |
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| 2013 | Senate of the Republic | Lombardy 1 | LN | – | Elected |
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| 2014 | European Parliament | North-West Italy | LN | 223,410 | Elected |
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| 2018 | Senate of the Republic | Lazio | Lega | – | Elected |
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| 2022 | Senate of the Republic | Apulia | Lega | – | Elected |
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Images for kids
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Matteo Salvini's signature
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Salvini with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in 2019
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Secretary Pompeo and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Salvini Deliver Statements to the Press (4807958451).jpg
Salvini with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019
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Matteo Salvini in 2021
See also
- Sardines movement
