Gianni Pittella

Last updated

Gianni Pittella
Gianni Pittella 2017.jpg
Pittella in 2017
Mayor of Lauria
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 October 2021
Relatives Marcello Pittella (brother)
Education University of Naples Federico II

Giovanni Saverio Furio "Gianni" Pittella (born 19 November 1958) is an Italian politician who served as Leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Group from 2014 to 2018 and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Italy from 1999 to 2018. He previously served as First Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2014.

Contents

Early life, family, and education

Pittella was born in Lauria. He graduated in medicine and surgery, and later specialized in legal and forensic medicine at the University of Naples Federico II. He is the son of Domenico Pittella, who was a member of the Senate of the Republic (1972–1983) in the Basilicata constituency. His younger brother, Marcello Pittella, is also a politician, who was the president of Basilicata from 2013 to 2019. Referred to as the Pittellas, [1] [2] they are considered a dynasty within the region. [3] [4] [5]

Career

Local and national political career

Following the political career of his father, Pittella was a member of the Italian Socialist Party, Labour Federation, and Democrats of the Left. At the age of 21, he was elected to the municipal council of his hometown Lauria and a year later became a member of the Regional Council of Basilicata with responsibility for training, culture and productive activities. After his graduation, Pittella remained very much involved in local and national politics. He was a member of the Italian Socialist Party and regional secretary of Young Socialists in Basilicata. With the Italian Socialist Party, he became Lauria's municipal councillor in 1979 and member of the Regional Council of Basilicata in 1980, the youngest regional councilor in Italy. In the 1994 Italian general election, Pittella record the highest percentage of vote for the Italian Socialista Party. In the subsequent 1994 European Parliament election in Italy, he recorded the highest number of preferential vote (about 30,000) among those who were not elected. In the 1996 Italian general election, he was elected to the Italian Parliament as a member of the Labour Federation. [6] In 2013, Pittella was a member of the national leadership council of the Democratic Party, then led by Pier Luigi Bersani. He took part in the 2013 Democratic Party leadership election. He came fourth out of four with 5.7% in the vote by party members, thus being excluded to the subsequent primary election. [7]

Member of the European Parliament

In the 1999 European Parliament election in Italy, Pittella was elected to the European Parliament with 64,499 preferential votes and became a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. He was re-elected in the 2004 (138,876 preferential votes), 2009, and 2014 European Parliament elections. In 2014, he added over 100,000 votes to his 2009 result, placing him ahead of party-colleague Pina Picierno, the candidate hand-picked by the then Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi to lead the Democratic Party list in the European Parliament's Southern Italy constituency representing Sicily and the other Italian islands. [8]

In the European Parliament, Pittella first served on the Committee on Budgets between 1999 and 2009. In this capacity, he was the European Parliament's rapporteur on the 2006 budget, [9] the last under a seven-year expenditure framework. He later was a member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (2009–2012) and the Committee on Culture and Education (2012–2014). Within his parliamentary group, he led the Italian delegation within the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and also served as the group's First Vice-Chairman between 1999 and 2014 under the leadership of successive chairmen Enrique Barón Crespo (1999–2004), Martin Schulz (2004–2012), and Hannes Swoboda (2012–2014). [10] [11]

Pittella served as one of the 14 Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament from 14 July 2009 to 1 July 2014. Following the 2014 European Parliament election in Italy, he was elected with 96 percent of the votes as the president of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the second largest political group at the European Parliament and the only one with members from all 28 European Union member states. In addition to his committee assignments and party functions, Pittella served on the Parliament's delegation. He was previously a member of the delegation for relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo (2009–2014), with Australia and New Zealand (2002–2004), and with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia (1999–2002). [11]

Earlier in 2012 while still in Brussels, Pittella had introduced Simona Mangiante to Joseph Mifsud, an academic from Malta reportedly with high level ties with the Russian government. At the time, Mangiante worked for the European Parliament as an attorney specializing in child abduction cases. Later, she worked as an administrator to the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs during the Seventh European Parliament. In 2018, Mangiante said that he "always saw Mifsud with Pittella" and that Pittella, who did not comment, suggested she go to work for Mifsud in London. [12] [nb 1]

Pittella attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to watch the nomination of Hillary Clinton. Alongside Brando Benifei, he was there in support of Bernie Sanders, to whom he asked for a fan pic. By the end of the week, Pittella urged Americans to not vote for Donald Trump, saying: "Europe needs the U.S. We need Hillary Clinton." [13] During his time in Philadelphia, Pittella also warned local businesspeople and supporters about fascism. He said: "I have taken the unprecedented step of endorsing and campaigning for Hillary Clinton because the risk of Donald Trump is too high. I believe it is in the interest of the European Union and Italy to have Hillary Clinton in office. A Trump victory could be a disaster for the relationship between the U.S.A. and Italy." [14]

Return to Italian politics

In the 2018 Italian general election, Pittella was elected to the Senate of the Republic, having been invited to stand by Democratic Party secretary Matteo Renzi. [15] He subsequently resigned as leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group. [16] [17] [18] In 2021, Pittella was elected mayor of Lauria. [10] In 2022, Pittella left the Democratic Party and alongside his brother, who was not chosen as candidate within the Democratic Party, joined the Action party led by former Democratic Party member Carlo Calenda. [19] [20] Ahead of the 2024 Basilicata regional election, Pittella dissented from his brother, who alleged vetoes within the centre-left coalition and went on to join the centre-right coalition in support of the incumbent president Vito Bardi. [21] [22] [23]

Personal life

Pittella is married and has two children. Besides his political work, he is the author of several books, including among others on the future and challenges of the European project, such as Rosso Antico (1996), Diario di bordo (1997), Sparlare, parlare, pensare (1998), Eurodiario (1999–2000), Il Triangolo della ricchezza (2003), Europ@ (2004), Dal Sud in Europa con te (2004), Partiti europei e gruppi politici nel nuovo europarlamento dell'Unione a 25 (2004), Un'Europa per i cittadini (2006), and Brief History of the Future of the United States of Europe (2013). He was the founder and director of the magazine Il Segno Mediterraneo. He is also a visiting professor at the University of East Anglia's London Academy of Diplomacy and ex-officio member of the bureau of the Fondation européenne d'études progressistes (FEPS). Pittella is a honorary citizen of the city of Buenos Aires. In September 2013, his younger brother, Marcello Pittella, whose political trajectory is very similar to that of his older brother, won the entre-left coalition primary election for the presidency of Basilicata. In November 2013, he was elected president by a landslide. [24] [25]

Notes

  1. ↑ While in London, Simona Mangiante met George Papadopoulos during the Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign, and the two got married in 2018. Papadopoulos was convicted as part of the Mueller special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. See Helderman, Rosalind S.; Hsu, Spencer (7 September 2018). "Former Trump adviser George Papadopoulos sentenced to 14 days in plea deal with Mueller probe". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 March 2024.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Party (Italy)</span> Italian social democratic political party

The Democratic Party is a social democratic political party in Italy. The party's secretary is Elly Schlein, elected in the 2023 leadership election, while the party's president is Stefano Bonaccini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian Socialist Party (2007)</span> Political party in Italy

The Italian Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy. The party was founded in 2007–2008 by the merger of the following social-democratic parties and groups: Enrico Boselli's Italian Democratic Socialists, the faction of the New Italian Socialist Party led by Gianni De Michelis, The Italian Socialists of Bobo Craxi, Democracy and Socialism of Gavino Angius, the Association for the Rose in the Fist of Lanfranco Turci, Socialism is Freedom of Rino Formica and some other minor organisations. Until October 2009, the party was known as Socialist Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">360 Association</span> Political party in Italy

360 Association is a centrist association connected to the Democratic Party (PD), a political party in Italy. It is led by Enrico Letta and that is why its members are often called Lettiani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandro Gozi</span> Italian politician, former Undersecretary of State for European Affairs (born 1968)

Sandro Gozi is an Italian politician, former Undersecretary of State for European Affairs in the Matteo Renzi and Paolo Gentiloni governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vito De Filippo</span> Italian politician (born 1963)

Vito De Filippo is an Italian politician. He served as the president of Basilicata from 6 May 2005 until his resignation on 24 April 2013 during his second term. From 2014 to 2018, he served as the state undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and undersecretary of the Ministry of Education in Matteo Renzi and Enrico Letta's governments, respectively, and was a deputy from 2018 to 2022. In 2022, his senatorial candidacy was unsuccessful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election</span> 2013 election of the leader of the Democratic Party of Italy

The 2013 Democratic Party leadership election was an open primary election held in November–December 2013. After having come first in the vote by party members, Matteo Renzi was elected by a landslide 68% in a three-way primary on 8 December.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Basilicata regional election</span> 10th election of the Regional Council and president of Basilicata

The 2013 Basilicata regional election took place on 17–18 November 2013. The election was for all 21 seats, reduced from 30, of the Regional Council of Basilicata and the president of Basilicata, who automatically became a member of the council alongside the second-placed candidate. It was the last election of the 2013 Italian regional elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcello Pittella</span> Italian politician (born 1962)

Marcello Pittella is an Italian politician. He served as president of the Basilicata region from 2013 to 2019. Formerly a member of the Democratic Party, he has been associated with the Action party since 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlo Calenda</span> Italian politician (born 1973)

Carlo Calenda is an Italian business executive and politician. On 2 May 2013, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Economic Development in the government of Enrico Letta, and was later confirmed in that post in the cabinet of Letta's successor, Matteo Renzi.

More Europe is a liberal and pro-European political party in Italy, part of the centre-left coalition and member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domenico Pittella</span> Italian politician (1932–2018)

Domenico Pittella was an Italian politician. A member of the Italian Socialist Party, Pittella served on the Senate of the Republic between 1972 and 1983. He was a trained surgeon, which cost him a conviction when he treated Natalia Ligas, a fugitive member of the Red Brigades. His two sons Gianni and Marcello Pittella are also politicians. Referred to as "the Pittellas", they are considered a "dynasty" in the Basilicata region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Basilicata regional election</span> 11th election of the Regional Council and president of Basilicata

The 2019 Basilicata regional election took place on 24 March 2019. The election was for all 21 seats of the Regional Council of Basilicata and the president of Basilicata, who automatically became a member of the council alongside the second-placed candidate. This election was the last one in Italy before the 2019 European Parliament election and the third one of the 2019 Italian regional elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vito Bardi</span> Italian politician (born 1951)

Vito Bardi is an Italian general and politician. He is serving as the 9th and incumbent president of Basilicata since 16 April 2019. Bardi joined the Guardia di Finanza in 1970. He was promoted colonel on 31 December 1995 and later army corps general in 2009. He served as deputy general commander of the Guardia di Finanza from 5 September 2013 to 4 September 2014.

Action is a liberal political party in Italy. Its leader is Carlo Calenda, a former minister of Economic Development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italia Viva</span> Italian political party

Italia Viva is a liberal political party in Italy founded in September 2019. The party is led by Matteo Renzi, a former Prime Minister of Italy and former secretary of the Democratic Party (PD). As of 2021, Italia Viva is a member of the European Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 European Parliament election in Italy</span>

The 2024 European Parliament election in Italy took place on 8 and 9 June 2024, electing members of the 10th Italian delegation to the European Parliament as part of the broader 2024 European Parliament election from 6 to 9 June. It was held concurrently with the 2024 Italian local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vito Santarsiero</span> Italian politician (born 1955)

Vito Santarsiero is an Italian politician. Santarsiero began his political career as a member of Christian Democracy (DC). He joined the Italian People's Party (PPI) in 1994 and then Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (DL) in 2002. In 2007, he was a founding member of the Democratic Party (PD).

Marco Zambuto is an Italian politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action – Italia Viva</span> Electoral list

Action – Italia Viva, informally known as the Third Pole, was a liberal and centrist parliamentary group and electoral list which ran in the 2022 Italian general election. The list was led by Carlo Calenda. During the 19th legislature, it named its parliamentary group Action – Italia Viva – Renew Europe in the Chamber and the Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Basilicata regional election</span> 12th election of the Regional Council and president

The 2024 Basilicata regional election was held on 21 and 22 April 2024 for all 21 elected seats of the Regional Council of Basilicata and the president of Basilicata, who automatically becomes a member of the council alongside the second-placed candidate. It is the final election in Italy before the 2024 European Parliament election in June 2024 and the third election of the 2024 Italian regional elections cycle.

References

  1. ↑ Rizzini, Marianna (21 January 2016). "Da Strasburgo alla Basilicata, ecco l'epopea glocal dei Pittellas". Il Foglio (in Italian). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  2. ↑ Olivo, Federica (18 March 2024). "Sistema Pittella. Tutte le manovre di Marcello, il Jep Gambardella della sinistra lucana". HuffPost Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  3. ↑ Arachi, Alessandra (15 March 2024). "Regionali in Basilicata, Pittella (Azione) fresco di assoluzione detta l'agenda a Pd e M5S: 'O seguono le nostre idee o andiamo avanti da soli'". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. ↑ Rossi, Cosimo (19 March 2024). "Pittella, una dynasty in Basilicata. Quei socialisti diventati calendiani: ma le elezioni fanno litigare i fratelli". Quotidiano Nazionale (in Italian). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  5. ↑ Padellaro, Antonio (20 March 2024). "Ai nuovi mostri noi rispondiamo con i Pittellas". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "Socialisti e Democratici". Partito Democratico (in Italian). 2010. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Pd, Pittella lascia le primarie con onore". Eunews (in Italian). 18 November 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  8. ↑ Panichi, James (18 June 2014). "Gianni Pittella – avuncular doctor". Politico Europe. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Banks, Martin (7 December 2005). "Next year's EU budget set for approval by MEPs". Politico Europe. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Pittella, Gianni". Treccani (in Italian). 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2024. Updated through the years.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  11. 1 2 "Gianni Pittella". European Parliament. 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  12. ↑ Harding, Luke; Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (18 January 2018). "The boss, the boyfriend and the FBI: the Italian woman in the eye of the Trump-Russia inquiry". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  13. ↑ Heath, Ryan (28 July 2016). "A new Hillary demographic: Europe's center right". Politico Europe. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  14. ↑ Newton-Small, Jay (29 July 2016). "An Italian Politician Campaigns for Hillary Clinton in Philadelphia". Time. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  15. ↑ Barigazzi, Jacopo; Briançon, Pierre (27 January 2018). "Gianni Pittella to run for Italian senate". Politico Europe. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  16. ↑ "Pittella will resign as S&D MEP if elected in Italy". EUobserver. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  17. ↑ De La Baume, Maïa (2 February 2018). "MEPs outraged by Pittella's departure, unenthusiastic about his return". Politico Europe. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  18. ↑ "Pittella resigns S&D Group leadership. New president to be elected on 20 March. Grazie Gianni". Socialists and Democrats. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "Elezioni, il senatore Gianni Pittella lascia il Pd e abbraccia Renzi e Calenda: 'Sono un embrione di speranza'". La Repubblica (in Italian). 21 August 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  20. ↑ Gagliardi, Andrea (19 March 2024). "Basilicata, la scelta di Azione di schierarsi con il centrodestra divide i fratelli Pittella". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  21. ↑ Vitale, Giovanna (19 March 2024). "Basilicata, Calenda va con la destra ma Azione si spacca: l'ex vicepresidente dell'Europarlamento Gianni Pittella si dissocia dal fratello". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  22. ↑ Zapperi, Cesare (18 March 2024). "Telenovela Basilicata: si spacca anche Azione. Calenda va col centrodestra, Gianni Pittella no". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  23. ↑ Forte, Elisa (20 March 2024). "Pittella contro Pittella, la dynasty dei Kennedy della Basilicata si spacca per le regionali". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  24. ↑ "In Basilicata primarie al fotofinish: vince Marcello Pittella". Europa Quotidiano (in Italian). Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  25. ↑ Grimolizzi, Gennaro (19 March 2024). "La saga dei Pittellas. Dal socialismo lucano all'abbraccio con il centrodestra". Il Dubbio (in Italian). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by President of the European Parliament
Acting
2014		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
2014–2018		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.