Ignazio La Russa
Minister of Defence | |
---|---|
In office 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 | |
Prime Minister | Silvio Berlusconi |
Preceded by | Arturo Parisi |
Succeeded by | Giampaolo Di Paola |
President of Brothers of Italy | |
In office 4 April 2013 – 8 March 2014 | |
Preceded by | Guido Crosetto |
Succeeded by | Giorgia Meloni |
President of National Alliance | |
Acting | |
In office 12 May 2008 – 22 March 2009 | |
Preceded by | Gianfranco Fini |
Succeeded by | Office abolished[a] |
Member of the Senate of the Republic | |
Assumed office 23 March 2018 | |
Constituency | Show list:
|
Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
In office 23 April 1992 – 22 March 2018 | |
Constituency | Show list:
|
Personal details | |
Born | Ignazio Benito Maria La Russa 18 July 1947 Paternò, Sicily, Italy |
Political party | Brothers of Italy (since 2012) |
Other political affiliations | MSI (1971–1995) AN (1995–2009) PdL (2009–2012) |
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Spouse | Laura De Cicco |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University of Pavia |
Ignazio Benito Maria La Russa (born 18 July 1947) is an Italian politician who is serving as
La Russa also served as
Early life and family
Ignazio La Russa was born in Paternò, near Catania, Sicily, in 1947. His father, Antonino La Russa, served as secretary of the National Fascist Party (PNF) for Paternò during the 1940s and joined the Italian Social Movement (MSI) after the war, being elected to the Parliament several times. La Russa had two brothers, both of them involved in politics: Vincenzo, a former senator for Christian Democracy (DC), and Romano, a former member of the European Parliament for the MSI's legal successor, the National Alliance.[5]
When he was 13, his family moved to
Political career
During his youth, La Russa joined the
In the
Member of the Parliament
In the
In 1994, the MSI merged with conservative factions of the former Christian Democracy and the Italian Liberal Party, forming a new party called National Alliance (AN) which was launched in 1994 but was officially founded in January 1995. Former MSI members dominated the new party, and the MSI's last leader, Gianfranco Fini, was elected the new party's first leader. Fini appointed La Russa vice president of the party. In the 1994 Italian general election, which was won by Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition, La Russa was re-elected to the Chamber and appointed deputy speaker of the house.[14]
In the 1996 Italian general election won by Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition, La Russa was re-elected to the Chamber for the single-member constituency of Milan with 41,598 votes.[15] In the legislature, La Russa was appointed chairman of the "Committee on Parliamentary Immunity", an office he held until 2001.[16] In the 2001 Italian general election, which was won by the centre-right, he was once again elected to the Chamber for the district of Milan 2 with 41,158 votes.[17] On 5 June 2001, La Russa became the leader of AN's deputies, a position that he held until 8 October 2003 and again between November 2004 and July 2005. In the 2006 Italian general election, he was confirmed at the Chamber of Deputies for the constituency of Lombardy 1.[18]
Minister of Defence
In the run-up to the
In November 2009, La Russa challenged the judgement of the Lautsi v. Italy of the European Court of Human Rights, which contested the display of the crucifix in Italian classrooms. He said: "The crucifix will remain in all the classrooms. They can die, they can die, they and those fake international organizations that count for nothing." Following an appeal by Italy, the first degree judgement was finally overturned.[19] At the end of 2009, with the 2010 financial law, La Russa launched Difesa Servizi S.p.A. a company with the aim of enhancing the defense's brand and assets.[20]
La Russa was among the main supporters of the 2011 military intervention in Libya against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, which was initially opposed by Prime Minister Berlusconi due to his long-time friendship with the de facto leader of Libya since 1969.[21] Furthermore, he was in favor of a ceasefire intervention by Italy in the Russo-Georgian War. As minister, La Russa issued the law 100/2009 and established the day of remembrance for the fallen soldiers in international peacekeeping missions.
On 2 May 2009, La Russa founded
Co-founder of Brothers of Italy
On 21 December 2012, La Russa, along with Guido Crosetto and Giorgia Meloni, founded Brothers of Italy (FdI), a national-conservative party,[23] split from the PdL because FdI considered Berlusconi and the PdL's secretary Angelino Alfano of being too close to Mario Monti's cabinet. In the 2013 Italian general election, he was once again elected to the Chamber. Moreover, on 4 April 2013, La Russa was appointed president of FdI,[24] a position that he held until 8 March 2014, when he was replaced by Meloni. In the 2018 Italian general election, La Russa was elected to the Senate of the Republic for the single-member district of Rozzano gaining 137,793 votes.[25] He became vice president of the Senate on 23 March 2018.[26]
President of the Senate
The 2022 Italian general election was marked by a strong showing of FdI, which became the most voted party with 26% of votes; the centre-right coalition, led by Meloni, won an absolute majority in both houses.[27][28] La Russa was re-elected to the Senate for the single-member constituency of Cologno Monzese with 239,720 votes.[29]
On 13 October 2022, La Russa was elected
On 11 December 2022, La Russa announced the proposal of a law aiming at introducing a voluntary military service for young people between 18 and 25 years old.[33]
Political views
Often accused of being a
Controversies
During his long-time career, La Russa has often been the protagonist of gaffes and controversies. A press conference of then Prime Minister
On 12 February 2011, La Russa kicked and insulted
At the beginning of the
In February 2023 he declared to have given his sister a bust of
Electoral history
Election | House | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | Regional Council of Lombardy | Milan | MSI | 24,096 | Elected | |
1990 | Regional Council of Lombardy | Milan | MSI | 13,807 | Elected | |
1992 | Chamber of Deputies | Milan–Pavia | MSI | 26,098 | Elected | |
1994 | Chamber of Deputies | Lombardy 1 – Milan 2 | AN | 8,561 | Not elected | |
Lombardy 1 | –[b] | Elected | ||||
1996 | Chamber of Deputies | Lombardy 1 – Milan 2 | AN | 41,598 | Elected | |
2001 | Chamber of Deputies | Lombardy 1 – Milan 2 | AN | 41,158 | Elected | |
2006 | Chamber of Deputies | Liguria | AN | –[b] | Elected | |
2008 | Chamber of Deputies | Lombardy 1 | PdL | –[b] | Elected | |
2009 | European Parliament | North-West Italy | PdL | 223,986 | Elected[c] | |
2013 | Chamber of Deputies | Apulia | FdI | –[b] | Elected | |
2018 | Senate of the Republic | Lombardy 4 – Rozzano | FdI | 137,793 | Elected | |
2022 | Senate of the Republic | Lombardy 2 – Cologno Monzese | FdI | 239,720 | Elected |
Notes
- ^ The party merged with Forza Italia to form The People of Freedom.
- ^ a b c d Elected in a closed list proportional representation system.
- ^ La Russa renounced to his seat and remained a member of the Chamber of Deputies.
References
- ^ "Governo, la Lega indica Fontana per la Camera. La Russa eletto in Senato senza l'appoggio di FI". Il Foglio (in Italian). Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Ignazio La Russa nuovo presidente del Senato. A un postfascista la seconda carica dello Stato. Un mese fa diceva: "Siamo tutti eredi del Duce"". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Governo Italiano – Biografia del ministro Ignazio La Russa". Governo (in Italian). Archived from the original on 12 May 2008.
- ^ La Russa, colonnello di FdI sullo scranno del Senato. ANSA
- ^ Ignazio e Romano La Russa, da Paternò alla Milano di Ligresti: storia di una famiglia tra potere e nostalgie nere. la Repubblica
- ^ La Russa Ignazio. Governo Italiano
- ^ Ignazio La Russa, biografia. Biografie Online
- ^ Ignazio La Russa. La Stampa
- ^ Quando La Russa era “La Rissa”. Il Fatto Quotidiano
- ^ Ministero dell'Interno – Elezioni del 1992, Camera dei Deputati. Ministero dell'Interno
- ^ Ministero dell'Interno – Elezioni del 1992, Senato della Repubblica. Ministero dell'Interno]
- ^ "Gli incarichi e le dichiarazioni di Ignazio LA RUSSA | openpolis".
- ^ XI Legislatura – La Russa Ignazio. Camera dei Deputati – Legislature precedenti
- ^ Ignazio La Russa. Camera dei Deputati
- ^ Ministero dell'Interno – Elezioni 1996, Camera dei Deputati. Ministero dell'Interno
- ^ "Ignazio la Russa. Scalate nazionali". 30 October 2009.
- ^ Ministero dell'Interno – Elezioni 2001, Camera dei Deputati. Ministero dell'Interno
- ^ Ministero dell'Interno – Elezioni 2001, Camera dei Deputati. Ministero dell'Interno
- ^ Il crocifisso resta a scuola. Famiglia Cristiana
- ^ L’Esercito si vende i fucili su Internet. La Stampa
- ^ Libia, La Russa (FdI): “Nel 2011 convinsi B. a intervenire mentre eravamo all’Opera”. Il Fatto Quotidiano
- ^ "Da Nuova Forza Italia ad Area Nazionale Babele di 22 fondazioni". Archiviostorico.corriere.it. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ Parties and Elections in Europe: The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck
- ^ "Ignazio la Russa - Sito ufficiale di Fratelli d'Italia - Alleanza Nazionale". fratelli-italia.it. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Ministero dell'Interno – Elezioni del 2018, Senato della Repubblica. Ministero dell'Interno
- ^ Ignazio La Russa, XVIII Legislatura. Senato della Repubblica
- S2CID 251987503.
- ^ Gautheret, Jérôme (25 September 2022). "The unstoppable rise of Giorgia Meloni, the new figurehead of the Italian radical right". Le Monde. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ Ministero dell'Interno – Elezioni 2022, Senato della Repubblica. Ministero dell'Interno
- ^ "Senato, Ignazio La Russa eletto presidente". Sky TG24 (in Italian). Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Chi ha votato La Russa dall'opposizione?". Il Post (in Italian). 13 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ De Gregorio, Concita (13 October 2022). "La superstite Segre e il fan del Duce La Russa: al Senato la staffetta degli opposti". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ La Russa: 'Disegno di legge per mini naja volontaria di 40 giorni'. ANSA
- ^ Le nostalgie fasciste di Ignazio La Russa, possibile futuro presidente del Senato. Domani
- ^ "Lo scranno a un ex fascista". Veleno di Lerner sulla guida del Senato. Il Giornale
- ^ "Far-right veteran elected Italian Senate speaker". France 24. Agence France-Press. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Who is the far-right veteran elected Italian Senate speaker?". The Local. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ Giuffrida, Angela (13 October 2022). "Brothers of Italy politician who collects fascist relics elected senate speaker". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "La Russa ci scrive: 'Il conservatorismo? Così vinciamo la guerra delle parole'". Il Primato Nazionale (in Italian). 7 December 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ Caracciolo, Giulio Pinco (12 October 2022). "Quando La Russa era fascista, la scena iniziale di 'Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina'". Il Riformista TV (in Italian). Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ Berlusconi, battibecco in conferenza. "Lei è un villano, si vergogni. la Repubblica
- ^ La Russa, il ministro scalcia-giornalisti. Fatto Quotidiano
- ^ La Russa e il volo di Stato per l'Inter. La Corte dei conti apre un'inchiesta. Corriere della Sera
- ^ «Pensate come state messi se vi devo dare io lezioni di democrazia». Il Post
- ^ Ignazio La Russa contro Michele Emiliano: “Siamo tutti eredi del Duce”. Notizie
- ^ Brothers of Italy politician who collects fascist relics elected senate speaker. The Guardian
- ^ La Russa e la sua collezione di busti mussoliniani: «Quella volta che presi a schiaffi il leader della Statale. Ancora se li ricorda». Corriere della Sera
- ^ Quando Ignazio La Russa mostrava gioiosamente i busti del duce e i cimeli fascisti. Next Quotidiano
- ^ "Belve, Ignazio La Russa: "A chi ho regalato il busto del Duce"" (in Italian). 21 February 2023.
- Il Corriere della Sera. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ La Russa sull'attentato di via Rasella: "I partigiani hanno ucciso dei musicisti pensionati, non i nazisti. Pagina ingloriosa". la Repubblica
- ^ La Russa: "Via Rasella pagina tutt'altro che nobile". ANSA