Italian politician and philosopher, born in Gallipoli, NW Turkey. He was the leader of the PPI (Italian Popular Party) in 19945, but left the party in July 1995 when its left-wing joined the Ulivo coalition. He then founded a new political movement, CDU or Cristiani Democratici Uniti (United Christian Democrats).
Rocco Buttiglione (born June 6, 1948) is an Italian Christian Democrat politician and an academic philosopher.
He studied law in Turin and Rome, and is Professor of political science at Saint Pius V University in Rome.
In May 2006, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the House of Freedoms for the city of Turin, polling just 29%, less than half the votes of incumbent mayor Sergio Chiamparino (The Union), who was confirmed.
Previous political experience
Rocco Buttiglione was born in Gallipoli, Puglia.
Rocco Buttiglione first attained attention on the Italian political stage when he became secretary of the Popular party, the largest of the parties that emerged from the Democrazia Cristiana, formerly the largest party in Italy since World War II after the Tangentopoli corruption scandals, in 1994.
The Popular party had presented itself along with Mario Segni in a centre alliance, in which came third after Silvio Berlusconi's and the left-wing coalition. Berlusconi had tense relationships with Lega Nord's leader, Umberto Bossi, and all involved in what he called the "ribaltone" for many years, but eventually both Bossi and Buttiglione would join forces with him to win the 2001 elections.
Since 2001, Buttiglione served as a minister for EU policies in Silvio Berlusconi's government.
Nominee for the European Commission
Reasons for the nomination
Following an increase of support for his Catholic, centrist political party, Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC), in a difficult period for Silvio Berlusconi's government, the party's leader, Marco Follini, could ask for more influence in the government.
Furthermore, according to the new balance of power inside the ruling coalition, the UDC was still entitled to more benefits, and it was decided that Rocco Buttiglione, already a minister in the government, would be Italy's member of the European Commission, and his place in the Italian government would be taken by another member of UDC.
Rocco Buttiglione was also indicated as qualified because he spoke foreign languages, among others English, German, French , Portuguese, Spanish and Polish.
In 2004, José Manuel Durão Barroso included him on his list of nominees for the European Commission, with a designated portfolio of Justice, Freedom and Security.
The speech at the European Parliament and its consequences
The nomination proved controversial.
When he, albeit very carefully, stated these opinions in front of the European Parliament, reactions came from the parlamentarians and public opinion in many European countries.
In the tactful terminology of the EU, the PSE and Green/EFA groups "expressed reservations" regarding his ability to take positive political action in the area of citizens' rights, in particular as regards combating discrimination.
Italian Catholic politicians and church leaders have rallied to defend Buttiglione's views.
On October 21 José Manuel Durão Barroso attempted to defuse the row by indicating that civil liberties, human rights and discrimination issues would be handled by a special panel that would include Buttiglione but that Barroso himself would chair it.
On October 30 Silvio Berlusconi announced that the Italian government would withdraw Buttiglione from the nomination, keeping him in his office of minister in the Italian government;
"The new soft totalitarianism that is advancing on the left wants to have a state religion It is an atheist, nihilistic religion - but it is a religion that is obligatory for all" complained Buttiglione in subsequent comments.
Foreign minister Franco Frattini was later indicated as a possible alternative, with the implicit promise that his ministry would then go to Gianfranco Fini, whose party had recently increased its influence in the government coalition.
Turin Administrative Election
Rocco Buttiglione ran as the candidate for his coalition, the House of Freedom, for the office of Mayor in Turin. After a poor campaign results were disastrous, Sergio Chiamparino, who had been elected in the previous elections with 52.8% of the votes, scored 66.6% of the votes against Buttiglione, and became the first Turin mayor to be elected at the first turn.
Financial investigations
It has also emerged that Buttiglione was investigated by the authorities in Monaco in 2002 over possible illegal money laundering in favour of his political party.
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