Matteo Salvini

Salvini's populism taps into the frustrations of the modern Italian people, presenting him as the everyman: a man who eats pizza on live streams, poses in football jerseys, and tweets in an Italian dialect. He embodies the rejection of the political elite and upper class, promising to be a voice for middle-class Italians. Yet, beneath the relatable persona lies a more sinister agenda, one that capitalizes on fear, division, and shifting narratives to consolidate influence.

How did a regional politician from Northern Italy become one of the most recognizable figures in European populism? What tactics does he use to remain relevant in a rapidly changing political climate? And what does his ascent tell us about the state of democracy in Italy and beyond?

Explore the rise of Matteo Salvini, narrated by our Editor in Chief — about how a politician who claims to represent the Italian people, but whose calculated narratives reveal much more about the complex, and often dangerous, dynamics of modern populism.