Matteo Salvini (born 9 March 1973 in Milan) is an Italian politician and a key figure in Italy's right-wing politics. He has been the Federal Secretary of Lega (formerly Lega Nord) since December 2013, transforming the party from a regionalist Northern Italian movement advocating greater autonomy for northern regions into a national force promoting nationalism, Euroscepticism, and opposition to mass immigration. Currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport since 2022, he is also a senator for Lombardy since March 2018. Previously, Salvini represented Northwestern Italy in the European Parliament from 2004 to 2018 and served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior from June 2018 to September 2019, during which he gained international prominence for his hardline anti-immigration policies, including blocking migrant rescue ships. Entering politics early through the youth wing of Lega Nord, he worked as a journalist, appeared on television as a child, and held local council roles in Milan. Salvini enrolled at the University of Milan to study Political Science and later History (or Historical Sciences) but left without graduating to pursue his political career full-time. Known for his direct communication style and strong social media presence, he remains a polarizing figure—criticized for populist rhetoric but praised by supporters for defending Italian sovereignty—while facing legal scrutiny, including trials related to his immigration policies.