FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Umberto Bossi, the founder of Lega Nord and one of the most well-known and controversial figures in Italian politics, has died at the age of 84.
According to Italian media, he was admitted to the Varese hospital the day before in critical condition and died at 8:30 PM.
Born on September 19, 1941 in Cassano Magnago, Bossi began his political activity in the 1970s in left-wing currents, but later gravitated towards autonomist and federalist ideas. In the 1980s he founded the Lega Lombarda, which later became the Lega Nord, a political project that united several regional movements in northern Italy.
First elected as a senator in 1987, he earned the nickname "Senator" and quickly became a central figure on the political scene. In 2001, he entered Silvio Berlusconi's government as minister for institutional reforms and federalism, a role he held until 2008.
Bossi led the Lega Nord for about two decades, promoting federalism and, at some stages, even the idea of “Padania” independence. His party was identified with strong political slogans and a straightforward rhetoric against centralization in Rome.
His career was severely affected by a stroke in 2004, which forced him to temporarily retire from political activity. In 2012, he resigned as secretary of the Lega Nord after a scandal over the use of party funds, an issue that also led to legal proceedings.
In the following years, his influence waned, especially after the rise to party leadership of Matteo Salvini, who transformed the Lega into a political force with national reach.
During his political life, Bossi faced several investigations and trials, including the issue of electoral reimbursements, where he was convicted of embezzlement of public funds, while later some charges were statute-barred.
His death has drawn reactions from across the Italian political spectrum. Former leader Pier Ferdinando Casini called him “a tireless fighter who marked Italy’s political history,” while Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described him as “a great protagonist of change in the country.”
Other political figures, including Pierluigi Bersani and Luca Zaia, also praised his role in shaping the political debate and raising the issue of regional autonomy in Italy.
Umberto Bossi remains a figure who profoundly influenced the transformation of Italian politics, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence the debate on federalism and the organization of the state.
Lini një Përgjigje