National ambitions, local challenges: multiple local trajectories of party change in Salvini’s League

This paper investigates the internal dynamics of organizational change in the Lega Salvini Premier, analyzing how, during its transformation from regionalism to nationalism, distinct local dynamics unfolded simultaneously in different parts of the country. Drawing on interviews and secondary data I collected in three zones in the North, Center-north, and South, I will show how pre-existing local political cultures, intra-party dynamics and local conditions shaped the party's ability to sustain or lose its foothold during the rapid electoral peak and fall under Salvini’s leadership. The Lega's initial attempt to export the mass party model south failed. The party then decided to rely on pre-existing patronage networks to gain electoral support, failing to develop an independent local structure in the long run. In the center-north, the party capitalized on its limited pre-existing resources during its peak consensus phase, resulting in a more solid presence. However, the area is characterized by a stratified membership with diverse ideological positions. Meanwhile, in the North, regional leadership maintained significant influence, resisting national directives. However, escalating internal tensions due to postponed party conferences and top-down appointments of commissaries caused defections and expulsions in the long run. This paper highlights the interplay between local political idiocultures and national directives, illustrating how the party's organizational evolution is contingent on regional differences. It is not sufficient for a party leadership to impose change in order for a change to happen. Party transformations require negotiation in multiple local situations.