Cécile Kyenge
Cécile Kashetu Kyenge (Italian pronunciation: [seˈsil ˈkjɛŋɡe]; born Kashetu Kyenge, 28 August 1964) is an Italian politician and ophthalmologist. She was the Minister for Integration in the 2013–14 Letta Cabinet. From 2014 until 2019, she was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Kyenge is of Congolese descent.
Cécile Kashetu Kyenge | |
|---|---|
Kyenge in 2013 | |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1 July 2014 – 2 July 2019 | |
| Constituency | North-East Italy |
| Minister for Integration | |
| In office 28 April 2013 – 22 February 2014 | |
| President | Giorgio Napolitano |
| Prime Minister | Enrico Letta |
| Preceded by | Andrea Riccardi |
| Succeeded by | Ministry abolished |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 26 February 2013 – 18 February 2014 | |
| Constituency | Emilia-Romagna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 August 1964 Kambove, DR Congo |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Domenico Grispino (1994–2019) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore |
| Profession | Ophthalmologist |
After moving to Italy in 1983 at the age of 19, she became a qualified ophthalmologist in Modena, Emilia-Romagna. She has founded an intercultural Association (DAWA) to promote mutual awareness, integration and cooperation between Italy and Africa, particularly in her country of birth, the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is also the spokesperson of the association "March First", which works to promote the rights of migrants in Italy.
In February 2013 she was elected member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Democratic Party in Emilia-Romagna. Two months later she was appointed Minister for Integration in the grand coalition government formed by Enrico Letta, becoming Italy's first black cabinet minister. She supports the introduction of a Jus soli law to grant citizenship to children of immigrants born on Italian soil.