Roberto Formigoni
Encyclopedia
Roberto Formigoni is an Italian politician
, and the current President of Lombardy Region
, Italy
.
of Milan, he studied political economy at the Sorbonne
, in Paris.
Roberto Formigoni began very early his political career in Christian Democracy
, through youth movements such as Gioventù Studentesca and Communion and Liberation
(of which he became the unofficial political spokesman).
In 1976 he founded the Popular Movement and was elected a deputy in both the European Parliament
(with over 450 thousand votes) and Parliament of Italy
. He was also the Vice-President of the European Parliament for five years and served as under-secretary for the Environment
in the Italian government.
In 1990 he garnered attention when he was involved in a mission to Iraq
which successfully concluded with the freeing of some Italian technicians who were hostages of the local government. He later took part in the Oil-for-food programme for Iraq, buying 1,000,000 oil barrels (160,000 m3). The move sparked controversy and linked him to alleged bribe scandals.
In 1995, founded with Rocco Buttiglione
the United Christian Democrats
party. In 1998 he moved to Forza Italia
, when Buttiglione briefly decided to support the government of Massimo D'Alema
.
He was elected as President of Lombardy
in 1995.
Promoting a decidedly conservative platform on many issues, resulting in a political backlash from some liberal groups, President Formigoni was re-elected in 2000 carrying over 62% of the approximately 3.5 million votes, and in 2005.
He was elected again for a fourth term in March 2010. His candidature had been contested by academics and left-wing politicians, as in disregard of Law n. 165/2004, that put a limit of two subsequent mandates to directly-elected Region Presidents. Formigoni was indirectly elected in 1995, but then directly elected in 2000 and 2005. He defends himself stating that the law was not in action when he was first directly elected in 2000, so he should be allowed a 4th mandate. According to some scholars, his mandate may be overturned by judges later on.
Formigoni also sparked controversies when agreeing to put in his majority-premium list, granting her safe election, Nicole Minetti, former showgirl and actual dental hygienist of Silvio Berlusconi
, who asked for a political seat for her.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and the current President of Lombardy Region
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, Italy
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...
.
Life and career
Graduated in Philosophy at the Catholic UniversityUniversità Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is a privately-owned Catholic university founded in 1921 by Agostino Gemelli. Its main campus is located in Milan, Italy with satellite campuses in Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona, Rome, and Campobasso...
of Milan, he studied political economy at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, in Paris.
Roberto Formigoni began very early his political career in Christian Democracy
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
, through youth movements such as Gioventù Studentesca and Communion and Liberation
Communion and Liberation
Communion and Liberation, or CL, is a lay ecclesial movement within the Catholic Church.-Overview:CL grew out of the educational and catechetical methods of Msgr. Luigi Giussani, who founded the movement...
(of which he became the unofficial political spokesman).
In 1976 he founded the Popular Movement and was elected a deputy in both the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
(with over 450 thousand votes) and Parliament of Italy
Parliament of Italy
The Parliament of Italy is the national parliament of Italy. It is a bicameral legislature with 945 elected members . The Chamber of Deputies, with 630 members is the lower house. The Senate of the Republic is the upper house and has 315 members .Since 2005, a party list electoral law is being...
. He was also the Vice-President of the European Parliament for five years and served as under-secretary for the Environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
in the Italian government.
In 1990 he garnered attention when he was involved in a mission to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
which successfully concluded with the freeing of some Italian technicians who were hostages of the local government. He later took part in the Oil-for-food programme for Iraq, buying 1,000,000 oil barrels (160,000 m3). The move sparked controversy and linked him to alleged bribe scandals.
In 1995, founded with Rocco Buttiglione
Rocco Buttiglione
Rocco Buttiglione is an Italian Christian Democrat politician and an academic.His nomination for a post as European Commissioner with a portfolio that was to include civil liberties, resulted in controversy as some political groups opposed him for his Roman Catholic views on homosexuality, despite...
the United Christian Democrats
United Christian Democrats
The United Christian Democrats was a Christian democratic party in Italy.-History:It began in 1995 by a split of those members of the Italian People's Party who wanted to enter into an alliance with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia...
party. In 1998 he moved to Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
, when Buttiglione briefly decided to support the government of Massimo D'Alema
Massimo D'Alema
Massimo D'Alema is an Italian politician. He is also a journalist and a former national secretary of the Democratic Party of the Left...
.
He was elected as President of Lombardy
President of Lombardy
The President of Lombardy is the supreme authority of Lombardy, the most populated Region of Italy.-Election:Originally appointed by the Regional Council of Lombardy, since 1995 de facto and 2000 de jure, he is elected by popular vote every five years under universal suffrage: the candidate who...
in 1995.
Promoting a decidedly conservative platform on many issues, resulting in a political backlash from some liberal groups, President Formigoni was re-elected in 2000 carrying over 62% of the approximately 3.5 million votes, and in 2005.
He was elected again for a fourth term in March 2010. His candidature had been contested by academics and left-wing politicians, as in disregard of Law n. 165/2004, that put a limit of two subsequent mandates to directly-elected Region Presidents. Formigoni was indirectly elected in 1995, but then directly elected in 2000 and 2005. He defends himself stating that the law was not in action when he was first directly elected in 2000, so he should be allowed a 4th mandate. According to some scholars, his mandate may be overturned by judges later on.
Formigoni also sparked controversies when agreeing to put in his majority-premium list, granting her safe election, Nicole Minetti, former showgirl and actual dental hygienist of 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...
, who asked for a political seat for her.
See also
- Lombard regional election, 1995Lombard regional election, 1995The Lombard regional election of 1995 took place on 23 April 1995. The 6th term of the Regional Council was chosen.For the first time the President of the Region was directly elected by the people, although the election was not yet binding and the President-elect could have been replaced during the...
- Lombard regional election, 2000Lombard regional election, 2000The Lombard regional election of 2000 took place on 16 April 2000. The 7th term of the Regional Council was chosen.Roberto Formigoni was re-elected for the second time in a row President, defeating Mino Martinazzoli...
- Lombard regional election, 2005Lombard regional election, 2005The Lombard regional election of 2005 took place on 3-4 April 2005. The 8th term of the Regional Council was chosen.Roberto Formigoni was re-elected for the third time in a row President, defeating Riccardo Sarfatti.-Electoral law:...
- Lombard regional election, 2010Lombard regional election, 2010The Lombard regional election of 2010 took place on 28–29 March 2010. The 9th term of the Regional Council was chosen.Roberto Formigoni, who was the longest-serving President of Region in Italy along with Giancarlo Galan of Veneto, obtained a historic fourth consecutive term. His opponent was...
- Comunione e Liberazione