Separatism in Europe

Historically, separatism was more regional; now it's anti-EU

TOPSHOT - Former President of the Catalan Government and leader of Partit Democrata Europeu Catala (Catalan European Democratic Party) PDECAT Artur Mas (between R and A letters) poses with other members of Catalan Government, the Catalan Parliament, Catalan mayors and party members few moments before his arrival at the TSJC (Superior Court of Catalonia) in Barcelona on Feb. 6, 2017. Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images

One of the surprising results of Italy’s election in March was a huge jump in support for the League–formerly known as the Northern League–up to nearly 18 percent, from around only 4 percent in 2013.

In October 2017, the party’s leader, Matteo Salvini, said that the time had come for the League to progress from a regional movement to a national party that addresses all Italians.