Italy's Donald Trump Is Running the Show
Euro-baiting Matteo Salvini is outmaneuvering his senior coalition partner.
Salvini seizes the spotlight.
Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg
If an alien landed in Rome today, he would think Matteo Salvini was running Italy. The leader of the right-wing League has seized the center stage of Italian politics, even though he is merely deputy prime minister, interior minister and head of the junior party in its governing coalition.
Five Star, the League’s senior partner in the new populist administration, is entirely to blame for this. The movement has been outmaneuvered comprehensively since Italy’s government was formed three weeks ago. Unless it finds a way to manage its unruly ally, Italy will keep drifting rightward and Five Star will keep losing ground.