Leoluca Orlando
Encyclopedia
Leoluca Orlando is an Italian politician
, who was mayor of Palermo
in 1985-1990 and 1993-2000. He is best known for his strong opposition to the Sicilian Mafia
.
and the UK, graduated in jurisprudence and worked as lawyer and professor in the University of Palermo
.
He was a member of Christian Democracy
(DC), in the left wing of the party. He entered politics in 1976 as legal adviser to Christian Democratic reformer Piersanti Mattarella
, who became president of the Sicilian Region in 1978. The two men set out to break the Mafia's hold on the island, transferring budget authority from the corrupt regional government back to the cities and passing a law enforcing the same building standards used in the rest of Italy, thereby making the Mafia's building schemes illegal. In retaliation, the Mafia killed Mattarella in January 1980.
The brother of Mattarella and other associates urged him to run for the Palermo municipal council, he ran successfully, and was elected mayor by the town council in 1985. From 1985-1990 he was elected mayor of Palermo, and received many threats as a result of his open opposition to the power of the Mafia in the city. He was re-elected as mayor in 1993 with 75.2% of the vote. In 1992 he was also elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies
. Two years later he became a member of the European Parliament
.
After the dissolution of DC, he founded a popular movement called La Rete
("The Net"), which in 1999 joined with Romano Prodi
's Democrats
. In 2001 he was among the founders of The Daisy, an Italian party currently including most of the former left-wing members of DC.
Since 2000, he's the President of the "Sicilian Renaissance Institute" a non-profit organization dealing with the promotion of economy and culture of lawfullness and Human rights.
In December 2000 he resigned from the position of mayor and was a candidate for the presidency of the autonomous region of Sicily. He was, however, defeated by the centre-right candidate Salvatore Cuffaro
. In 2006 he was expelled from the Daisy, after having shown his full support for the candidacy of Rita Borsellino
in the Sicilian presidential centre-left primary election, contrary to the line of his party that supported its member Ferdinando Latteri. He subsequently joined the Italy of Values
of Antonio Di Pietro
with whom he was elected at the Italian Chamber of Deputies
. He has been the President of the Parliamentary Commission for Regional affairs.
In April 2008 he has been re-elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies
.
On May 2007 he ran as centre-left candidate for mayor of Palermo, after having won the centre-left primary election in a landslide with about 72% of the votes. He however lost to incumbent Diego Cammarata of the House of Freedoms
, who obtained about 53% of votes compared with Orlando's 45%. Following the results, Orlando denounced massive electoral frauds and asked for the annulment of the vote.
His accusations are currently under evaluation by both the Penal and the Administrative Tribunals of Sicily.
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...
, who was mayor of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
in 1985-1990 and 1993-2000. He is best known for his strong opposition to the Sicilian Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
.
Biography
Orlando was born in Palermo. He studied in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the UK, graduated in jurisprudence and worked as lawyer and professor in the University of Palermo
University of Palermo
The University of Palermo is a university located in Palermo, Italy, and founded in 1806. It is organized in 12 Faculties.-History:The University of Palermo was officially founded in 1806, although its earliest roots date back to 1498 when medicine and law were taught there...
.
He was a member of Christian Democracy
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
(DC), in the left wing of the party. He entered politics in 1976 as legal adviser to Christian Democratic reformer Piersanti Mattarella
Piersanti Mattarella
Piersanti Mattarella was an Italian politician. He was assassinated by the Mafia while he held the position of President of the Regional Government of Sicily.-Background and early career:...
, who became president of the Sicilian Region in 1978. The two men set out to break the Mafia's hold on the island, transferring budget authority from the corrupt regional government back to the cities and passing a law enforcing the same building standards used in the rest of Italy, thereby making the Mafia's building schemes illegal. In retaliation, the Mafia killed Mattarella in January 1980.
The brother of Mattarella and other associates urged him to run for the Palermo municipal council, he ran successfully, and was elected mayor by the town council in 1985. From 1985-1990 he was elected mayor of Palermo, and received many threats as a result of his open opposition to the power of the Mafia in the city. He was re-elected as mayor in 1993 with 75.2% of the vote. In 1992 he was also elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
. Two years later he became a member of 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...
.
After the dissolution of DC, he founded a popular movement called La Rete
La Rete
Movement for Democracy – The Net was an Italian political party led by Leoluca Orlando.Formed by Orlando on 24 January 1991 whilst mayor of Palermo the group sought to reinvigorate the moral traditions of Italian democracy and also took a strong anti-Mafia stance. Initially attached to Christian...
("The Net"), which in 1999 joined with Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
's Democrats
Democrats (Italy)
The Democrats is a former political party in Italy, launched by Romano Prodi in 1998. One of the party's main goals was the establishment of a bipolar political system. The name and symbol of the party is a direct reference to the U.S...
. In 2001 he was among the founders of The Daisy, an Italian party currently including most of the former left-wing members of DC.
Since 2000, he's the President of the "Sicilian Renaissance Institute" a non-profit organization dealing with the promotion of economy and culture of lawfullness and Human rights.
In December 2000 he resigned from the position of mayor and was a candidate for the presidency of the autonomous region of Sicily. He was, however, defeated by the centre-right candidate Salvatore Cuffaro
Salvatore Cuffaro
Salvatore "Totò" Cuffaro is an Italian politician, former President of Sicily, currently serving a 7 years sentence for aiding the Mafia...
. In 2006 he was expelled from the Daisy, after having shown his full support for the candidacy of Rita Borsellino
Rita Borsellino
Rita Borsellino is an anti-Mafia activist, Sicilian politician, and sister of the late judge Paolo Borsellino, killed by the Corleonesi in 1992 by a car bomb...
in the Sicilian presidential centre-left primary election, contrary to the line of his party that supported its member Ferdinando Latteri. He subsequently joined the Italy of Values
Italy of Values
Italy of Values is a centrist, populist and anti-corruption political party in Italy. The party, which is affiliated to the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party , is headed by former Mani pulite prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro, who entered politics in 1996.The party aims to gather and give...
of Antonio Di Pietro
Antonio Di Pietro
Antonio Di Pietro is an Italian politician. He was a Member of the European Parliament, an Italian Senator, and Minister of the Prodi Government...
with whom he was elected at the Italian Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
. He has been the President of the Parliamentary Commission for Regional affairs.
In April 2008 he has been re-elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
.
On May 2007 he ran as centre-left candidate for mayor of Palermo, after having won the centre-left primary election in a landslide with about 72% of the votes. He however lost to incumbent Diego Cammarata of the House of Freedoms
House of Freedoms
The House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
, who obtained about 53% of votes compared with Orlando's 45%. Following the results, Orlando denounced massive electoral frauds and asked for the annulment of the vote.
His accusations are currently under evaluation by both the Penal and the Administrative Tribunals of Sicily.