Lega Nord founder Umberto Bossi dies aged 84

Italy’s Lega Nord founder Umberto Bossi has died aged 84.

Bossi’s political career began in the 1970s when he was an activist, and in 1982 he founded the Lega Autonomista Lombarda in order to represent the interests of Italy’s north. 

Seven years later he became the leader of the newly-formed Lega Nord after merging with other northern autonomous movements.

Bossi became associated with a sense of disdain toward the notion of Italy’s south dragging the north down economically.

In 1992, Lega Nord became Italy’s fourth-largest political party and Bossi became senator. Two years later, he was a key part of Silvio Berlusconi’s rise to power, as well as the newly-formed Forza Italia, which was in alliance with Bossi’s party.

Their alliance brought Lega into government, but the partnership quickly collapsed when Bossi withdrew support, bringing down Berlusconi’s first administration.

Relations between the two leaders then deteriorated into open hostility, with both sides exchanging sharp personal and political attacks. Despite this, they eventually reconciled, and by 2001 Lega had rejoined the government alongside Berlusconi. 

Bossi was appointed Minister for Institutional Reform and Devolution

Bossi’s political career was also overshadowed by controversy. In 1994, he became entangled in the Tangentopoli scandal, a corruption investigation that shook Italian politics. Although he was not convicted, the episode linked him to allegations of illicit financing. 

A more damning scandal emerged in 2012, when misuse of party funds within Lega was uncovered. Bossi and several relatives were accused of diverting public money for personal use. 

This led to his resignation as party leader, effectively ending his dominance in Italian politics and pushing him into a less prominent role thereafter.