Umberto Bossi, historic founder and leader of the Northern League, passed away in Varese at the age of 84. The “Senatur” died around 8.30 pm at the Circolo Hospital, where he had been admitted to intensive care in the evening due to a sudden worsening of his health conditions. For over twenty years Bossi had been living with the consequences of a serious stroke which struck him in 2004, limiting his public activity but not his political commitment.
The news of his passing was mourned by the family, with his son Renzo underlining the consistency of his father’s ideals until the last moment. The condolences of the political world were immediate, starting from the current secretary of the League, Matteo Salvini, who canceled his institutional commitments to urgently return to Milan.
Umberto Bossi, biography and career of the “senatur”
Born in Cassano Magnago on 19 September 1941, Umberto Bossi embodied the parable of the “breaking” leader for over three decades. Before becoming the architect of Italian federalism, his life went through many different phases: from his studies in Medicine at the University of Pavia, which were never completed, up to a brief parenthesis in the world of music under the pseudonym Donato, which led him to take the stage at the Castrocaro Festival in 1961.
However, political inspiration came in 1979, thanks to the meeting with the autonomist forces of the Union Valdôtaine and Bruno Salvadori, laying the foundations for what would become the historical nucleus of the League.
Bossi’s institutional rise was rapid. In 1984 he founded the Lombard Autonomist League, which in 1991 would federate with the sister movements of the North to create the Northern League. Elected for the first time to the Senate in 1987, hence the famous nickname of “Senatur”, Bossi was able to intercept the post-Tangentopoli discontent, transforming the dialect and symbols of “Padania” into a national political language. During his long career he has held many positions: six times MP, three times MEP and Minister of Reforms in two different Berlusconi governments (2001-2004 and 2008-2011).
Even after the serious stroke in 2004, which profoundly affected him, Bossi maintained the leadership of the Northern League until 2012, the year of his resignation following investigations into electoral reimbursements. Even after the passing of the baton, the “Senatur” remained a fundamental figure of the movement, being re-elected to Parliament until the 2022 legislature.
Earnings and assets: the real estate empire
As always in these cases, it is difficult to reconstruct all the earnings and overall assets of such a long-lived figure in Italian politics. We know that as a senator (position held until 2022), Bossi received a gross monthly allowance of 11,555 euros, which net translated into approximately 5,304 euros. To these figures were added the daily allowance of 3,500 euros and reimbursements for mandate and flat-rate expenses (telephony and transport), bringing the monthly total to over 14,600 euros.
According to the latest available tax return (tax period 2020), the total income declared by the founder of the League amounted to 99,702 euros.
On the asset front we can speak of the “real estate empire”. As of 2012, the data spoke of approximately 18 properties attributable to the family.
Specifically;
- 2 houses;
- 2 buildings;
- 14 terrains.
Most of these assets are registered to his wife, Manuela Marrone. Among these assets there is the villa of Gemonio, symbol of the Carroccio. The valuation is approximately 430,000 euros.
Who is entitled to the inheritance?
With the passing of Umberto Bossi, the succession phase begins. The main beneficiary should be his wife, Manuela Marrone, partner since 1982. Followed by his four children: Riccardo, Renzo, Roberto Libertà and Eridano Sirio.
From an economic point of view, still in the absence of a public will, the distribution of the assets should follow the quotas foreseen by the legitimate succession. As emerged from his assets, most of the real estate properties are already registered in the name of his wife Manuela. The succession will therefore concern current accounts, securities and any ownership shares, including those linked to the Varese home and the proceeds of past real estate sales.
