Paolo Borsellino
Encyclopedia
Paolo Borsellino was an Italian
anti-Mafia
magistrate
who was killed by a Mafia car bomb in Palermo
, less than two months after his fellow anti-Mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone
had been assassinated.
neighbourhood, la Kalsa
, Borsellino obtained a degree in law at the University of Palermo
, with honors, in 1962. While a university student he was member of the Fronte Universitario d'Azione Nazionale (FUAN), a right-wing university organization affiliated with the Movimento Sociale Italiano. After his father's death, he passed the judiciary exam in 1963. During those years, he worked in many cities in Sicily
(Enna
in 1965, Mazara del Vallo
in 1967, Monreale
in 1969). After he married in 1968, he transferred to his native Palermo in 1975 together with Rocco Chinnici
, where he then started his unfinished work to fight and defeat the growing Sicilian Mafia
.
His accomplishments included the arrest of six organization members in 1980; in the same year, one of his workmates, the Carabinieri
captain Emanuele Basile
, was murdered by the Mafia. Because of that event, he was assigned police protection.
During those years, working together with Magistrates Giovanni Falcone
and Rocco Chinnici
, Borsellino continued his research about the Mafia and its links to political and economical powers in Sicily and Italy. He became part of Palermo's Antimafia Pool, created by Chinnici. The Antimafia pool was a group of investigating magistrates who closely worked together sharing information to diffuse responsibility and to prevent one person from becoming the sole institutional memory and solitary target. The group consisted of Falcone, Borsellino, Giuseppe Di Lello and Leonardo Guarnotta.
In 1983, Rocco Chinnici
was killed by a bomb in his car. His place in the Antimafia Pool was taken by Antonino Caponnetto
. In 1986, Borsellino became head of the Procure of Marsala
, continuing there his personal campaign against the Mafia bosses, in the most populated city of the province of Trapani
. His links with Giovanni Falcone, who remained in Palermo, allowed him to cover the entire Western Sicily for investigations. In 1987, after Caponnetto resigned due to illness, Borsellino was protagonist of a great protest about the unsuccessful nomination of his friend Giovanni Falcone as head of the Antimafia Pool.
In 1992, Borsellino was killed by a car bomb in Via D'Amelio, Palermo, less than two months after the death of his good friend Falcone. The bomb attack also claimed the lives of five policemen: Agostino Catalano, Walter Cosina, Emanuela Loi, Vincenzo Li Muli, Claudio Traina. In recognition of their efforts in the anti-Mafia trials, he and Giovanni Falcone
were named as heroes of the last 60 years in the November 13, 2006 issue of Time Magazine.
In his last video interview, given on May 21, 1992 to Jean Pierre Moscardo and Fabrizio Calvi, Borsellino spoke about the possible link between Cosa Nostra's mafiosi and rich Italian businessmen such as future Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
. The interview received surprisingly little coverage on Italian television (half of which was owned by Berlusconi); as of 2007, it has been aired on only one occasion, and that by a satellite channel RaiNews 24
in 2000, in an abridged version which is a mere 30 minutes long (it is 50 minutes long in its original form).
Salvatore Riina
, the head of the Corleonesi
Mafia Family, is now serving a life sentence in prison for sanctioning the murders of Borsellino and Falcone, as well as for many other crimes.
Borsellino today is considered as one of the most important magistrates killed by the Sicilian Mafia during the 1980s and 1990s, and he is remembered as one of the main symbols of the battle of the State against the Mafia. Many schools and public buildings were named after him, including the Palermo International Airport
(now known as Falcone-Borsellino Airport). A memorial by local sculptor
Tommaso Geraci
is there.
His sister Rita
ran as centre-left
presidential candidate in the 2006 regional election
, after having won the regional primary election
, but lost to incumbent Salvatore Cuffaro
, who is currently in jail.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
anti-Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
who was killed by a Mafia car bomb in Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, less than two months after his fellow anti-Mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone
Giovanni Falcone
Giovanni Falcone was an Sicilian/Italian prosecuting magistrate born in Palermo, Sicily. From his office in the Palace of Justice in Palermo, he spent most of his professional life trying to overthrow the power of the Mafia in Sicily...
had been assassinated.
Life and career
Born in a middle-class PalermoPalermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
neighbourhood, la Kalsa
Kalša
Kalša is a village and municipality in Košice-okolie District in the Kosice Region of eastern Slovakia.-History:In historical records, the village was first mentioned in shabgfohusa 1270.-Geography:...
, Borsellino obtained a degree in law at the University of Palermo
University of Palermo
The University of Palermo is a university located in Palermo, Italy, and founded in 1806. It is organized in 12 Faculties.-History:The University of Palermo was officially founded in 1806, although its earliest roots date back to 1498 when medicine and law were taught there...
, with honors, in 1962. While a university student he was member of the Fronte Universitario d'Azione Nazionale (FUAN), a right-wing university organization affiliated with the Movimento Sociale Italiano. After his father's death, he passed the judiciary exam in 1963. During those years, he worked in many cities in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
(Enna
Enna
Enna is a city and comune located roughly at the center of Sicily, southern Italy, in the province of Enna, towering above the surrounding countryside...
in 1965, Mazara del Vallo
Mazara del Vallo
Mazara del Vallo is a town and comune in southwestern Sicily, Italy, which lies mainly on the left bank at the mouth of the Mazaro river, administratively part of the province of Trapani....
in 1967, Monreale
Monreale
Monreale is a town and comune in the province of Palermo, in Sicily, Italy, on the slope of Monte Caputo, overlooking the very fertile valley called "La Conca d'oro" , famed for its orange, olive and almond trees, the produce of which is exported in large quantities...
in 1969). After he married in 1968, he transferred to his native Palermo in 1975 together with Rocco Chinnici
Rocco Chinnici
Rocco Chinnici was a noted Italian Antimafia magistrate killed by the Mafia.-Life:Born at Misilmeri, Chinnici graduated in law at the University of Palermo in 1947 and started working as a magistrate in 1952 in Trapani. In 1966 he moved to the prosecutors office in Palermo...
, where he then started his unfinished work to fight and defeat the growing Sicilian Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
.
His accomplishments included the arrest of six organization members in 1980; in the same year, one of his workmates, the Carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
captain Emanuele Basile
Emanuele Basile
Emanuele Basile was a captain of the Carabinieri and a collaborator of Paolo Borsellino on anti-Mafia investigations. He was killed by Cosa Nostra in Monreale, Palermo, shot repeatedly in the back whilst he carried his four-year-old daughter, who was unhurt in the shooting...
, was murdered by the Mafia. Because of that event, he was assigned police protection.
During those years, working together with Magistrates Giovanni Falcone
Giovanni Falcone
Giovanni Falcone was an Sicilian/Italian prosecuting magistrate born in Palermo, Sicily. From his office in the Palace of Justice in Palermo, he spent most of his professional life trying to overthrow the power of the Mafia in Sicily...
and Rocco Chinnici
Rocco Chinnici
Rocco Chinnici was a noted Italian Antimafia magistrate killed by the Mafia.-Life:Born at Misilmeri, Chinnici graduated in law at the University of Palermo in 1947 and started working as a magistrate in 1952 in Trapani. In 1966 he moved to the prosecutors office in Palermo...
, Borsellino continued his research about the Mafia and its links to political and economical powers in Sicily and Italy. He became part of Palermo's Antimafia Pool, created by Chinnici. The Antimafia pool was a group of investigating magistrates who closely worked together sharing information to diffuse responsibility and to prevent one person from becoming the sole institutional memory and solitary target. The group consisted of Falcone, Borsellino, Giuseppe Di Lello and Leonardo Guarnotta.
In 1983, Rocco Chinnici
Rocco Chinnici
Rocco Chinnici was a noted Italian Antimafia magistrate killed by the Mafia.-Life:Born at Misilmeri, Chinnici graduated in law at the University of Palermo in 1947 and started working as a magistrate in 1952 in Trapani. In 1966 he moved to the prosecutors office in Palermo...
was killed by a bomb in his car. His place in the Antimafia Pool was taken by Antonino Caponnetto
Antonino Caponnetto
Antonino Caponnetto was an Italian Antimafia magistrate.Caponnetto was born in Caltanissetta. His career began in 1954 in Florence, but he became famous only in 1983, after Rocco Chinnici's assassination, when he took over his job in Palermo.Under his lead, the Antimafia pool of magistrates came...
. In 1986, Borsellino became head of the Procure of Marsala
Marsala
Marsala is a seaport city located in the Province of Trapani on the island of Sicily in Italy. The low coast on which it is situated is the westernmost point of the island...
, continuing there his personal campaign against the Mafia bosses, in the most populated city of the province of Trapani
Trapani
Trapani is a city and comune on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.-History:...
. His links with Giovanni Falcone, who remained in Palermo, allowed him to cover the entire Western Sicily for investigations. In 1987, after Caponnetto resigned due to illness, Borsellino was protagonist of a great protest about the unsuccessful nomination of his friend Giovanni Falcone as head of the Antimafia Pool.
Giovanni Falcone
Giovanni Falcone was an Sicilian/Italian prosecuting magistrate born in Palermo, Sicily. From his office in the Palace of Justice in Palermo, he spent most of his professional life trying to overthrow the power of the Mafia in Sicily...
were named as heroes of the last 60 years in the November 13, 2006 issue of Time Magazine.
In his last video interview, given on May 21, 1992 to Jean Pierre Moscardo and Fabrizio Calvi, Borsellino spoke about the possible link between Cosa Nostra's mafiosi and rich Italian businessmen such as future Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
. The interview received surprisingly little coverage on Italian television (half of which was owned by Berlusconi); as of 2007, it has been aired on only one occasion, and that by a satellite channel RaiNews 24
RaiNews 24
Rai News is an Italian 24-hour all-news State-owned television channel, broadcast on digital terrestrial television in Italy and via satellite around Europe and North America.-History:...
in 2000, in an abridged version which is a mere 30 minutes long (it is 50 minutes long in its original form).
Salvatore Riina
Salvatore Riina
Salvatore "Totò" Riina is a member of the Sicilian Mafia who became the most powerful member of the criminal organization in the early 1980s. Fellow mobsters nicknamed him The Beast due to his violent nature, or sometimes The Short One due to his diminutive stature...
, the head of the Corleonesi
Corleonesi
The Corleonesi is the name given to a faction within the Sicilian Mafia that dominated Cosa Nostra in the 1980s and the 1990s. It was called the Corleonesi because its most important leaders came from the town of Corleone, first Luciano Leggio and later Totò Riina, Bernardo Provenzano and Leoluca...
Mafia Family, is now serving a life sentence in prison for sanctioning the murders of Borsellino and Falcone, as well as for many other crimes.
Borsellino today is considered as one of the most important magistrates killed by the Sicilian Mafia during the 1980s and 1990s, and he is remembered as one of the main symbols of the battle of the State against the Mafia. Many schools and public buildings were named after him, including the Palermo International Airport
Palermo International Airport
-The Company:GESAP S.p.a. is the airport management company of "Falcone e Borsellino" Airport in Palermo. It has a fully paid-up share capital of € 15,912,332.00 divided between the Regional Province of Palermo, the Comune of Palermo, the Chamber of Commerce, the Comune of Cinisi and other minor...
(now known as Falcone-Borsellino Airport). A memorial by local sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
Tommaso Geraci
Tommaso Geraci
Tommaso Geraci is an Italian sculptor.Born in Sclafani Bagni, Sicily, Geraci graduated from the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam, Netherlands in fine arts and sculpture, spending a year of his studies at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, Italy.He currently lives and works in the...
is there.
His sister Rita
Rita Borsellino
Rita Borsellino is an anti-Mafia activist, Sicilian politician, and sister of the late judge Paolo Borsellino, killed by the Corleonesi in 1992 by a car bomb...
ran as centre-left
The Union (political coalition)
The Union was an centre-left coalition of political parties in Italy. It was led by Romano Prodi, Prime Minister of Italy from April 2006 to April 2008, and former President of the European Commission.-Parties:...
presidential candidate in the 2006 regional election
Sicilian regional election, 2006
The Sicilian regional election of 2006 for the renewal of the Regional Assembly and the Presidency of Sicily was held on 28 May 2006.The election was competed by three competitors: Salvatore Cuffaro, incumbent President and House of Freedoms candidate; Rita Borsellino, candidate of The Union; and...
, after having won the regional primary election
Primary elections in Italy
The mechanism of primary elections was used for the first time in Italy by Lega Nord in 1995, but was scarcely used until before the 2005 regional elections, for which the centre-left The Union coalition delegated its potential electors to select candidates for office as President of the Regions of...
, but lost to incumbent Salvatore Cuffaro
Salvatore Cuffaro
Salvatore "Totò" Cuffaro is an Italian politician, former President of Sicily, currently serving a 7 years sentence for aiding the Mafia...
, who is currently in jail.
Quotes
Sources
- Excellent Cadavers (1995) Alexander StilleAlexander StilleAlexander Stille is an American author and journalist. He is the son of Ugo Stille, a well-known Italian journalist and a former editor of Italy's Milan-based Corriere della Sera newspaper. Alexander Stille graduated from Yale and later the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism...
, Vintage ISBN 0-09-959491-9 - The Antimafia: Italy’s fight against organized crime (1999), Alison Jamieson, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0-333-80158-X.
- Cosa Nostra (2004) John Dickie, Coronet, ISBN 0-340-82435-2