Many of the thousands of people who turned out for his Rome rally did come from southern Italy. Saying that citizenship "isn't an electoral gift," Salvini told the approving crowd that the legislation "won't happen thanks to the League and you." The Northern League is planning to run in alliance with the center-right Forza Italia party of former three-time premier Silvio Berlusconi and the tiny right-wing Brothers of Italy party. Opinion polls published last week indicated Berlusconi's party had about a two-point advantage over the Northern League. Of his hopes to become premier, Salvini said: "If the Italians want that, it would be a splendid reality."

Source: ABC News December 10, 2017 14:37 UTC