A member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord and close friend of Jörg Haider, Martin was elected Mayor of Jesolo in 1993 and re-elected in 1997.
In 1998, when Liga Veneta split between Venetists and Padanists, Martin sided with the second group.
However, after he had lost the leadership race to Gian Paolo Gobbo, he too chose to leave the party.
After the brief experience of VRFP, Martin joined Forza Italia as an independent and served as regional councillor in Veneto.
[3] Those who disagreed with Martin's decision to join Forza Italia formed the Party for Independent Veneto (Partito per il Veneto Indipendente) under Fabrizio Dal Col.[4][5][6] This party was instrumental in the organization of a "referendum for self-determination" in Jesolo (on the example of Catalan independence referendums), which was celebrated in September 2009: only the 20% of voters showed up, but 97% of them voted in favour of independence.