Maria Domenica Castellone

• University of Naples Federico II (PhD)

Maria Domenica Castellone
Castellone in 2022
Member of the Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 October 2022
Occupation	Politician academic
Website	mariolinacastellone.it
Nickname	Mariolina

Maria Domenica "Mariolina" Castellone (born 3 April 1975) is an Italian academic and politician for the Five Star Movement. In November 2021, she became the first female group leader of the M5S in the Italian Senate.

Early life and education

Castellone was born in Villaricca, Italy, ^[1] on 3 April 1975. ^[2] She graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Naples Federico II in 2000, where she also earned a PhD in Oncology and Molecular Endocrinology. She then pursued further education in the United States, completing a doctorate in Molecular Oncology. ^[1]

Career

Academic

Since 2006, Castellone has been a researcher at the Institute of Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology of the National Research Council. ^[1] She has received several awards for her research, including the Guido Berlucchi Foundation Young Researchers Award for Cancer Research, the Cecilia Cioffrese Award of the Carlo Erba Foundation, the Schlecter and Cescatti Awards of the Trentina Foundation for Cancer Research, and the Gaetano Salvatore International Award for Thyroid Pathophysiology from the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. ^[2]

Political

Castellone entered politics with the Five Star Movement. Although she received only 49 votes in her first election in 2018, she was subsequently reinstated as a candidate and elected from Giugliano. ^[1] In November 2021, Castellone contested the leadership of the Senate, including leader Ettore Licheri. She stated that her candidacy responded to requests for female leadership, saying "The time has come for a woman to lead the Senate". ^[3] At the time, she was a member of the Senate Hygiene and Health Committee and had served as deputy group leader under Licheri. Castellone expressed support for Giuseppe Conte's "political direction". ^[3] She characterized the contest with Licheri not as a confrontation but as a "healthy exchange" within the party. ^[3]

The first vote ended in a 36–36 tie, following a disputed ballot. After internal negotiations by Conte, Licheri stepped back, and Castellone was confirmed as leader on 5 November 2021. ^{[4] [5]} She became the first female group leader of the Five Star Movement in the Senate. ^[1]

References

1. Brandolini, Simona (21 July 2022). "Mariolina Castellone, la capogruppo M5s al Senato che ha messo in «crisi» Draghi fu bocciata alle Parlamentarie" [Mariolina Castellone, the M5S group leader in the Senate who threw Draghi into crisis, was rejected in the parliamentary elections.]. Corriere del Mezzogiorno (in Italian). Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
2. "M5S, Castellone la anti-Conte. Oncologa con un'esperienza negli Usa. Ritratto" [Five Star Movement (M5S), Castellone, the anti-Conte. Oncologist with experience in the US. Portrait]. Affaritaliani (in Italian). 4 November 2021. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
3. "M5s, al Senato si vota il nuovo capogruppo: Castellone sfida l'uscente Licheri. Alla Camera Crippa resta in carica fino a dicembre" [Five Star Movement (M5S) votes for new group leader in the Senate: Castellone challenges the outgoing Licheri. Crippa remains in office in the Chamber of Deputies until December.]. il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 30 October 2021. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
4. "Chi è Mariolina Castellone, il medico neo capogruppo al Senato del M5S" [Who is Mariolina Castellone, the physician and new M5S group leader in the Senate?]. Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). 5 November 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
5. "Mariolina Castellone eletta capogruppo dei 5s al senato: è la prima sconfitta di Conte da leader" [Mariolina Castellone elected as 5S group leader in the Senate: this is Conte's first defeat as leader.]. Globalist (in Italian). 5 November 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.