Maurizio Gasparri (born 18 July 1956) is an Italian politician.
Maurizio Gasparri | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Senate of the Republic | |
| Assumed office 29 April 2008 | |
| Constituency | Lazio |
| Italian Minister of Communications | |
| In office 11 July 2001 – 23 April 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Silvio Berlusconi |
| Preceded by | Salvatore Cardinale |
| Succeeded by | Mario Landolfi |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 23 April 1992 – 29 April 2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 July 1956 Rome, Italy |
| Political party | Forza Italia (since 2013) |
| Other political affiliations | |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Spouse | Amina Fiorillo (m. 1980) |
| Residence(s) | Rome, Italy |
| Profession | politician, ex journalist |
Career
Gasparri was born in Rome to parents of Campanian origins. He was educated at the Liceo Torquato Tasso in the city. In his civilian life he worked as a journalist, becoming editor-in-chief of the Secolo d'Italia, the daily paper of the post-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI).
Political career
Gasparri was formerly a member of the MSI - where he was deputy secretary of the movement's Youth Front (Fronte della Gioventù; FdG) throughout the mid-1980s - and the National Alliance (AN). From 2001 to 2005 he served as the Minister of Communications in the Berlusconi II Cabinet. It was during his time in this role that he pushed for controversial amendments to the country's telecommunications legislation, known collectively as the legge Gasparri. Following a weak showing in the regional elections of 2005, he was replaced in Berlusconi's third Cabinet by Mario Landolfi.
Alongside Ignazio La Russa, Gasparri was considered a leader of the AN mainstream faction Destra Protagonista. During the XVI legislature (2008–13), he was president of The People of Freedom (PdL) bloc in the Senate. He is against jus soli, same-sex marriage and LGBT adoption.[1]
Obama controversy
In the wake of Barack Obama's election in November 2008, Gasparri declared on RAI that "with Obama in the White House, perhaps al-Qaeda is happier".[2][3][4][5] He was heavily criticized for his comments by the Italian Democratic Party.[6]
Gallery
Gasparri (second from right) addressing the Youth Front in 1981, alongside Giorgio Almirante (second from left), Gianfranco Fini and Almerigo Grilz.
Gasparri in 2001.
Gasparri campaigning on behalf of Alfio Marchini during the municipal elections in Rome in 2016.
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Bibliography
- 1986 - Adolfo Urso: L'età dell'intelligenza, ed. Settimo Sigillo
- 2005 - Fare il futuro, intervista a cura di Lucilla Parlato
- 2007 - Il cuore a destra, ed. Rubbettino