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Article: Federalist Movement in Italy Faces Crisis; Political Move by Northern League Leader May Backfire, Imperiling Berlusconi Government
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- December 16, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Italy's Northern League, which has led a crusade to split the
country into three autonomous regions, now finds itself in a
political crisis that could shatter the federalist movement along
with the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
League leader Umberto Bossi, a populist firebrand whose
party holds the balance of power in Berlusconi's rightist alliance,
has embarked on what many supporters fear may be a suicidal gambit
in opening talks with centrist and leftist opponents to create an
alternative ruling coalition.
Bossi's latest threat to bring down Berlusconi's seven-month-old
government has aroused fresh doubts about his leadership among
League supporters, whose ...