Gianni De Michelis
Encyclopedia
Giovanni De Michelis (born on 26 November 1940) is an Italian
politician
.
.
His political experience started with the Italian Socialist Party
, where he was elected to the municipal council of Venice. He got elected for the first time to the Italian Parliament in 1976 and was elected again in 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 2006. He was Minister for State's Participation from 1980 to 1983. He then became Minister of Work in 1986 (with Bettino Craxi
as President of the Council). His career however reached the top with his nomination to the Vice-Presidency of the Council in 1988-1989. He became Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1989 and kept that post until 1992.
Between 1993 and 2001, during the so called "judicial storm of Mani Pulite
", was accused of curruption along with many of the socialists MPs and regional administrators. Within more than 35 different trails, apart from the numerous favorable verdicts, he has been convicted of corruption
and was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months (negotiated) in Venice
for highways bribes in Veneto
and to 6 months for illegal financing (Enimont bribe, also negotiated).
In 1996 De Michelis founded a political movement named the Socialist Party
with Ugo Intini
and other former Italian Socialist Party
(PSI) members, which later was joined by the Socialist League
of Claudio Martelli
and Bobo Craxi to form the New Italian Socialist Party (NPSI) in 2001. He was elected secretary of the new party at the first congress.
De Michelis was a Member of the European Parliament
for Southern with the NPSI, and was therefore a Non-Inscrit
in the European Parliament
whilst awaiting the acceptance of his party's request of membership in the Socialist Group
. He sat in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
, and was a substitute for the Committee on Legal Affairs
, a member of the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China
and a substitute for the Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.
His leadership however had been contested in the congress of October 2005 where the son of Bettino Craxi
, Bobo Craxi claimed to have been declared secretary
after De Michelis had left the hall declaring the Congress void. This led Bobo to open a judicial case. The judge, on the second verdicts, gave unquestionably confirmed the right to use the symbol and the secretacy to Gianni De Michelis.
At the elections of 2006 he was elected MP for the Italian parliament but gave his seat to Lucio Barani since he decided to stay in the European Parliament. In October 2007, De Michelis merged his small Socialist Party–De Michelis
organisation into join the newly-formed Socialist Party, a new party made up of the diaspora of the historical Italian Socialist Party. At this time, De Michelis along with fellow former NPSI MEP Alessandro Battilocchio
were admitted into the parliamentary group of the Party of European Socialists
.
Politics of Italy
The politics of Italy is conducted through a parliamentary, democratic republic with a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised collectively by the Council of Ministers, which is led by the President of the Council of Ministers, referred to as "Presidente del Consiglio" in Italian...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Biography
De Michelis was born in VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
.
His political experience started with the Italian Socialist Party
Italian Socialist Party
The Italian Socialist Party was a socialist and later social-democratic political party in Italy founded in Genoa in 1892.Once the dominant leftist party in Italy, it was eclipsed in status by the Italian Communist Party following World War II...
, where he was elected to the municipal council of Venice. He got elected for the first time to the Italian Parliament in 1976 and was elected again in 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 2006. He was Minister for State's Participation from 1980 to 1983. He then became Minister of Work in 1986 (with Bettino Craxi
Bettino Craxi
Benedetto Craxi was an Italian politician, head of the Italian Socialist Party from 1976 to 1993, the first socialist President of the Council of Ministers of Italy from 1983 to 1987.-Political career:...
as President of the Council). His career however reached the top with his nomination to the Vice-Presidency of the Council in 1988-1989. He became Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1989 and kept that post until 1992.
Between 1993 and 2001, during the so called "judicial storm of Mani Pulite
Mani pulite
Mani pulite was a nationwide Italian judicial investigation into political corruption held in the 1990s. Mani pulite led to the demise of the so-called First Republic, resulting in the disappearance of many parties. Some politicians and industry leaders committed suicide after their crimes were...
", was accused of curruption along with many of the socialists MPs and regional administrators. Within more than 35 different trails, apart from the numerous favorable verdicts, he has been convicted of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
and was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months (negotiated) in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
for highways bribes in Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
and to 6 months for illegal financing (Enimont bribe, also negotiated).
In 1996 De Michelis founded a political movement named the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Italy, 1996–2001)
The Socialist Party was a tiny social-democratic party in Italy.It was founded in 1996 by former members of the Italian Socialist Party close to Bettino Craxi, as Gianni De Michelis, Ugo Intini, Fabrizio Cicchitto, Margherita Boniver, Bobo Craxi and Donato Robilotta, some of which had been members...
with Ugo Intini
Ugo Intini
Ugo Intini is an Italian politician.A long-time member of the Italian Socialist Party and close aide of Bettino Craxi, he founded the Socialist Party in 1996 and joined the Italian Democratic Socialists in 1998....
and other former Italian Socialist Party
Italian Socialist Party
The Italian Socialist Party was a socialist and later social-democratic political party in Italy founded in Genoa in 1892.Once the dominant leftist party in Italy, it was eclipsed in status by the Italian Communist Party following World War II...
(PSI) members, which later was joined by the Socialist League
Socialist League (Italy)
The Socialist League was a tiny social-democratic party in Italy.Its leading members included Claudio Martelli and Bobo Craxi. In 1998 they joined the Italian Socialists and other Socialist components to form the Italian Democratic Socialists, of which Martelli was elected deputy leader in 1999.In...
of Claudio Martelli
Claudio Martelli
Claudio Martelli is an Italian politician, and the right-hand man of Bettino Craxi, the socialist Prime Minister from 1983–1987.-Biography:Martelli was born at Gessate, in the province of Milan....
and Bobo Craxi to form the New Italian Socialist Party (NPSI) in 2001. He was elected secretary of the new party at the first congress.
De Michelis was a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for Southern with the NPSI, and was therefore a Non-Inscrit
Non-Inscrits
Non-Inscrits are Members of the European Parliament who do not sit in one of the recognized political groups....
in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
whilst awaiting the acceptance of his party's request of membership in the Socialist Group
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats is the social-democratic political group in the European Parliament, formed by MEPs of the Party of European Socialists and allied centre-left parties. The group dates its ancestry via various names back to the beginning of the European...
. He sat in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy is a committee of the European Parliament. Its areas of responsibility relate to industry, especially technology-intensive manufacturing, information technology, and telecommunications. It also coordinates European space policy, and as such, has ties...
, and was a substitute for the Committee on Legal Affairs
Committee on Legal Affairs
The Committee on Legal Affairs is a committee of the European Parliament.It is preparing many crucial decisions of the European Parliament. It met on 20 and 21 June 2005 and debated and voted on the Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions.-External links:*...
, a member of the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and a substitute for the Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.
His leadership however had been contested in the congress of October 2005 where the son of Bettino Craxi
Bettino Craxi
Benedetto Craxi was an Italian politician, head of the Italian Socialist Party from 1976 to 1993, the first socialist President of the Council of Ministers of Italy from 1983 to 1987.-Political career:...
, Bobo Craxi claimed to have been declared secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
after De Michelis had left the hall declaring the Congress void. This led Bobo to open a judicial case. The judge, on the second verdicts, gave unquestionably confirmed the right to use the symbol and the secretacy to Gianni De Michelis.
At the elections of 2006 he was elected MP for the Italian parliament but gave his seat to Lucio Barani since he decided to stay in the European Parliament. In October 2007, De Michelis merged his small Socialist Party–De Michelis
Socialist Party (Italy, 2007–2008)
The Socialist Party was a tiny social-democratic Italian political party. Its leader was Gianni De Michelis.-History:...
organisation into join the newly-formed Socialist Party, a new party made up of the diaspora of the historical Italian Socialist Party. At this time, De Michelis along with fellow former NPSI MEP Alessandro Battilocchio
Alessandro Battilocchio
Alessandro Battilocchio is an Italian politician and Member of the European Parliamentfor Central with the Socialist Party New PSI , which has apparently not joined the...
were admitted into the parliamentary group of the Party of European Socialists
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
.