Italy’s far right leader Matteo Salvini is poised for a political breakthrough in this weekend’s local elections – triggering shock waves through the country’s establishment.

Polls show his anti-immigrant League party could win regional elections in the northern Emilia-Romagna as well as Calabria in the south – and if he wins there, opponents fear he could win anywhere.

But after losing a powerful government position last year – how has Salvini managed to take advantage of the chaotic state of Italian politics?

Populist Salvini poised for breakthrough in Italian regional elections