Padanian nationalism

Padanian nationalism is a secessionist ideology and a regionalist movement demanding more autonomy, or even independence from Italy, for Padania, a region encompassing northern and, to some extent, part of central Italy.

Lega Nord, a federation of regional parties, proclaimed the formation of the "Federal Republic of Padania" in 1996 and was the main political proponent of Padanian nationalism until 2013, when the party shifted back toward federalism and regionalism, as well as adopting to some extent Italian nationalism, under Matteo Salvini's leadership. However, the party still includes Padanist factions and people, notably including founder and former leader Umberto Bossi. Additionally, there have been some minor Padanian nationalist parties, such as Lega Padana, Lega Padana Lombardia/Padanian Union, the Alpine Padanian Union, the Padanian Independentist Movement, Veneto Padanian Federal Republic, the Popular Party of the North and Pact for the North. Some Padanians consider themselves to have Celtic ancestry and/or heritage. There also have been some intellectuals, such as Gianfranco Miglio, Gilberto Oneto, Giancarlo Pagliarini and Leonardo Facco, who have continued to be keen Padanists, after breaking with Lega Nord. In January 2012, Gianluca Marchi, a former editor of La Padania, launched L'Indipendenza, an online newspaper, as the voice of independent Padanism and Padanian libertarianism. Oneto, Pagliarini and Facco were all contributing editors of it. Similar movements include Lombard nationalism and Venetian nationalism.