He was Minister of the Budget in Berlusconi I Cabinet in 1994, "President of Padania" in 1996 and floor leader of Lega Nord in the Chamber of Deputies from 1999 to 2001.
Born in Milan, he was later elected to the Italian Senate for Lega Nord in 1992 and re-elected in 1994, then elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1996 and in 2001.