Rocco Buttiglione
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Rocco Buttiglione (born June 6, 1948) is an Italian Christian Democrat politician and an academic philosopher. He attracted controversy when he was proposed as a European Commissioner, because some of his views on morality were said to be too conservative—although he claims that they are merely statements of Catholic social teaching.
He studied law in Turin and Rome, and is Professor of political science at Saint Pius V University in Rome. He was elected a Parliamentary Deputy for Milan in May 2001, and was the European Union Policy Minister in the government of Silvio Berlusconi.
In May 2006, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the House of Freedoms for the city of Turin, polling just 29%, less than half the votes of incumbent mayor Sergio Chiamparino (The Union), who was confirmed. [1]
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[edit] Previous political experience
Rocco Buttiglione was born in Gallipoli, Puglia.
Rocco Buttiglione first attained attention on the Italian political stage when he became secretary of the Popular party, the largest of the parties that emerged from the Democrazia Cristiana, formerly the largest party in Italy since World War II after the Tangentopoli corruption scandals, in 1994.
The Popular party had presented itself along with Mario Segni in a centre alliance, in which came third after Silvio Berlusconi's and the left-wing coalition. In December 1994 the Berlusconi government came to an end as the Lega Nord left the coalition to a temporary coalition with the left wing and the Popular party; Buttiglione was then leading it. Silvio Berlusconi, outraged that he had been ousted by the Parliament, claimed that he had been chosen by the people and requested new elections; however, Lamberto Dini, a former minister of his government, was appointed by the president of the Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. Berlusconi had tense relationships with Lega Nord's leader, Umberto Bossi, and all involved in what he called the "ribaltone" for many years, but eventually both Bossi and Buttiglione would join forces with him to win the 2001 elections.
Since 2001, Buttiglione served as a minister for EU policies in Silvio Berlusconi's government.
[edit] Nominee for the European Commission
[edit] Reasons for the nomination
Following an increase of support for his Catholic, centrist political party, Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC), in a difficult period for Silvio Berlusconi's government, the party's leader, Marco Follini, could ask for more influence in the government. In particular, the UDC was lobbying against the powerful economy minister Giulio Tremonti, supported by Umberto Bossi's Lega Nord; Tremonti was later put out of office and replaced with the politically more neutral Domenico Siniscalco.
Furthermore, according to the new balance of power inside the ruling coalition, the UDC was still entitled to more benefits, and it was decided that Rocco Buttiglione, already a minister in the government, would be Italy's member of the European Commission, and his place in the Italian government would be taken by another member of UDC.
Rocco Buttiglione was also indicated as qualified because he spoke foreign languages, among others English, German, French , Portuguese, Spanish and Polish. He certainly speaks German and English fluently.
In 2004, José Manuel Durão Barroso included him on his list of nominees for the European Commission, with a designated portfolio of Justice, Freedom and Security.
[edit] The speech at the European Parliament and its consequences
The nomination proved controversial. As a Roman Catholic, Buttiglione believes that homosexuality is a sin, and that "The family exists in order to allow women to have children and to have the protection of a male who takes care of them" [2]. He has also defended his country's decision to return many of the thousands of illegal immigrants arriving each year.
When he, albeit very carefully, stated these opinions in front of the European Parliament, reactions came from the parlamentarians and public opinion in many European countries.
In the tactful terminology of the EU, the PSE and Green/EFA groups "expressed reservations" regarding his ability to take positive political action in the area of citizens' rights, in particular as regards combating discrimination. On October 11 the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice And Home Affairs of the European Parliament voted by 27-26 not to endorse the nomination. After it became clear that a vote on October 27 in the European Parliament, to approve the Commission, would not succeed, José Manuel Durão Barroso withdrew his proposed commission.
Italian Catholic politicians and church leaders have rallied to defend Buttiglione's views. "This decision shows the real face of Europe, a face which we don't like. It's fundamentalist, which is absolutely not on," said Justice Minister Roberto Castelli [3].
On October 21 José Manuel Durão Barroso attempted to defuse the row by indicating that civil liberties, human rights and discrimination issues would be handled by a special panel that would include Buttiglione but that Barroso himself would chair it. "The new commission will be absolutely opposed to any kind of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender, or religious beliefs", he stated.
On October 30 Silvio Berlusconi announced that the Italian government would withdraw Buttiglione from the nomination, keeping him in his office of minister in the Italian government; however, he did not mention who would be the Italian candidate to be a member of the European Commission.
"The new soft totalitarianism that is advancing on the left wants to have a state religion It is an atheist, nihilistic religion - but it is a religion that is obligatory for all" complained Buttiglione in subsequent comments.
Foreign minister Franco Frattini was later indicated as a possible alternative, with the implicit promise that his ministry would then go to Gianfranco Fini, whose party had recently increased its influence in the government coalition. However, there were still rumors that Giulio Tremonti might be picked for the job. Tremonti would be supported by Lega Nord, but his proposal would create imbalance and tensions in the government coalition.
Eventually, Frattini was officially appointed.
[edit] Turin Administrative Election
Rocco Buttiglione ran as the candidate for his coalition, the House of Freedom, for the office of Mayor in Turin. His opponent was the incumbent Sergio Chiamparino, member of the Union. Turin had been a left-wing stronghold in the previous general elections and the city hosted successfully the 2006 Winter Olympics, making Buttiglione's challenge very difficult. Adding to that, some wondered why such a hard-line conservative, who had never lived in Turin before, was proposed for the office, calling Buttiglione's move as a political suicide. After a poor campaign results were disastrous, Sergio Chiamparino, who had been elected in the previous elections with 52.8% of the votes, scored 66.6% of the votes against Buttiglione, and became the first Turin mayor to be elected at the first turn.
[edit] Financial investigations
It has also emerged that Buttiglione was investigated by the authorities in Monaco in 2002 over possible illegal money laundering in favour of his political party. At the end no evidence was found that any crime had been committed. Giampiero Catone, a senior aide of Buttiglione, has been charged with "fraudulent bankruptcy" in Italy; and faces inquiries into the disappearance of millions of Euros of Italian and EU funds. At the end also this inquires didn't produce any result .[4]
[edit] Publications
- Rocco Buttiglione: Dialettica e Nostalgia. Jaca Book, Milano 1978
- Rocco Buttiglione: La crisi dell’economia marxista: Gli inizi della scuola di Francoforte. Ed. Studium, Rom 1979
- Rocco Buttiglione: Il pensiero di Karol Wojtyla. Jaca Book, Milano 1982
- Rocco Buttiglione, Hans Thomas (ed.): Ethik der Leistung. Busse Seewald, Herford 1988, ISBN 3-512-00835-6
- Rocco Buttiglione: La crisi della morale. Dino, Roma 1991
- Rocco Buttiglione, Radim Palouš, Josef Seifert (ed.): Die Verantwortung des Menschen in einem globalen Weltzeitalter. Winter, Heidelberg 1996, ISBN 3-8253-0453-1
- Rocco Buttiglione, Josef Seifert (ed.): Wie erkennt man Naturrecht? Winter, Heidelberg 1998, ISBN 3-8253-0675-5
