Northern League party leader Umberto Bossi gestures to journalists after leaving Palazzo San Macuto in downtown Rome on February 3, 2001. A hotly-debated federalism law proposed by the right-wing Northern League party, a key ally in Berlusconi’s ruling coalition, failed to win approval from a parliamentary committee that was divided evenly between for and against.The proposed law has enraged opposition parties and the League had threatened early elections for the ailing government in the case of a tie. AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (Photo credit should read TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images)
