Ignazio La Russa
Ignazio Benito Maria La Russa (born 18 July 1947) is an Italian politician who is serving as president of the Senate of the Republic since 13 October 2022. He is the first politician with a neo-fascist background to hold the position of President of the Senate, the second highest-ranking office of the Italian Republic.
The Honourable Ignazio La Russa | |
|---|---|
La Russa in 2023 | |
| President of the Senate of the Republic | |
| Assumed office 13 October 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Elisabetta Casellati |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Silvio Berlusconi |
| Preceded by | Arturo Parisi |
| Succeeded by | Giampaolo Di Paola |
| President of Brothers of Italy | |
| In office 4 April 2013 – 8 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Guido Crosetto |
| Succeeded by | Giorgia Meloni |
| President of National Alliance | |
Acting | |
| In office 12 May 2008 – 22 March 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Gianfranco Fini |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Member of the Senate of the Republic | |
| Assumed office 23 March 2018 | |
| Constituency | Show list:
|
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 23 April 1992 – 22 March 2018 | |
| Constituency | Show list:
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ignazio Benito Maria La Russa 18 July 1947 Paternò, Sicily, Italy |
| Political party | Brothers of Italy (since 2012) |
| Other political affiliations | MSI (1971–1995) AN (1995–2009) PdL (2009–2012) |
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Spouse | Laura De Cicco |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Pavia |
La Russa also served as Minister of Defence in the Berlusconi IV Cabinet from 2008 to 2011, and as Vice President of the Senate of the Republic from 2018 until 2022. Moreover, during his long-time career, he held various posts within his parties. In 2008, he became acting president of the National Alliance, which on 29 March 2009 merged into The People of Freedom, of which he was one of the three national coordinators until 17 December 2012, when he launched Brothers of Italy (FdI). From 4 April 2013 to 8 March 2014, La Russa served as president of FdI.