Raffaele Fitto
Raffaele Fitto (born 28 August 1969) is an Italian politician and a member of the European Parliament. He is serving as the minister of European affairs in the Meloni Cabinet since 2022.
Raffaele Fitto | |
|---|---|
| Minister for European Affairs, South and Cohesion Policies | |
| Assumed office 22 October 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Giorgia Meloni |
| Preceded by | Vincenzo Amendola (European Affairs, 2021) Mara Carfagna (South and Cohesion) |
| Co-Chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists | |
| In office 2 July 2019 – 12 October 2022 | |
| Serving alongside | Ryszard Legutko Jorge Buxadé |
| Member of European Parliament for Southern Italy | |
| In office 1 July 2014 – 12 October 2022 | |
| Succeeded by | Denis Nesci |
| In office 20 July 1999 – 20 June 2000 | |
| Member of Chamber of Deputies | |
| Assumed office 13 October 2022 | |
| In office 28 April 2006 – 25 June 2014 | |
| Minister for Regional Affairs and Territorial Cohesion | |
| In office 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Silvio Berlusconi |
| Preceded by | Linda Lanzillotta |
| Succeeded by | Piero Gnudi (Regional Affairs) Fabrizio Barca (Territorial Cohesion) |
| President of Apulia | |
| In office 19 May 2000 – 27 April 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Salvatore Distaso |
| Succeeded by | Nichi Vendola |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 August 1969 Maglie, Apulia, Italy |
| Political party | Brothers of Italy (since 2019) |
| Other political affiliations | DC (1990–94) PPI (1994–95) CDU (1995–98) CDL (1998–2001) FI (2001–09) PdL (2009–13) FI (2013–15) CoR (2015–17) DI (2017–19) |
| Alma mater | University of Bari |
| Profession | Politician |
| Website | raffaelefitto |
Career
Born in Maglie, Fitto was elected in 1999 at European Parliament for Forza Italia.[citation needed]
On 17 May 2015, Fitto left Forza Italia and the European People's Party parliamentary group to join the European Conservatives and Reformists.[1][2]
In 2022 he was appointed to the Meloni government. He was replaced in the European Parliament by Denis Nesci.[3]
Trials
Bribery towards the Italian public health care system
Fitto in 2006 was investigated by the Bari prosecutor in connection with a donation to his regional party La Puglia Prima di Tutto of 500,000 Euros by Tosinvest, a company owned by Antonio Angelucci, ahead of the 2005 Apulian regional election. According to the prosecution this amount was suspected of being a bribe to secure for the Apulia region the management of eleven nursing homes.
A request to arrest Fitto, who in the meantime had become a Member of the Italian Parliament, was rejected by the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Fitto in December 2009 was found guilty of abuse of office, corruption and illegal financing of political parties; Fitto was acquitted of some other charges in June 2012.[4]
Fitto in February 2013 was sentenced by the Court of first instance (Tribunale di Primo Grado, the first grade) to four years in prison and five years' disqualification from public office;[5] the sentence was commuted to 1 year.[6]
Fitto in September 2015 was acquitted of all charges by the Court of second instance (Corte d'Appello, the second grade).[7]
Fitto in June 2017 was acquitted of all charges by the Supreme Court of Cassation (Corte di Cassazione, the final grade).[8]
Bankruptcy of Cedis
Fitto in February 2009 was accused of conspiring, during his presidency of the Apulia region (2000–2005), Italy, to short-sell the trading company "Cedis", at that time (2004–2006)[9] in administration. The charges were filed in April 2009; however in March 2017 Fitto was acquitted of all charges by the Court of second instance (Corte d'Appello, the second grade).[10]
References
- ^ "Fitto, addio a Forza Italia: "Lascio anche il Ppe". Berlusconi: "Siamo felici, ci ha tolto un peso"". 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Berlusconi taglia la fronda: "Basta politici mestieranti, se vanno via siamo felici"".
- ^ "Home | Denis NESCI | MEPs | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
- ^ "Processo 'La Fiorita', assoluzione con formula piena per Raffaele Fitto - Il Fatto Quotidiano". 1 June 2012.
- ^ "Tangenti: condannato a 4 anni l'ex ministro Raffaele Fitto (Pdl)". 13 February 2013.
- ^ "Bari, ex ministro Raffaele Fitto condannato a 4 anni di carcere, tre condonati - Il Fatto Quotidiano". 13 February 2013.
- ^ "Raffaele Fitto assolto in secondo grado dall'accusa di corruzione nell'inchiesta Fiorita: "Non ci fu tangente" - Il Fatto Quotidiano". 29 September 2015.
- ^ "Legali: per Cassazione nessuna corruzione addebitabile a Fitto".
- ^ "Inchiesta su turbativa d'asta Fitto rinuncia alla prescrizione - Bari - Repubblica.it".
- ^ "Vicenda Cedis, Fitto e Montinari assolti a Bari".
External links
- (in Italian) Raffaele Fitto - official website
- (in Italian) Direzione Italia - official website
- Personal profile of Raffaele Fitto in the European Parliament's database of members