Federico Pizzarotti (born 7 October 1973) is an Italian politician who served as mayor of Parma from 2012 to 2022. Elected mayor as a member of the Five Star Movement (Movimento Cinque Stelle, M5S), which he had first joined in 2009, he successfully ran for re-election in 2017 through a civic list, after dissent within the M5S. He was the first M5S mayor in a provincial capital of Italy, after being elected on 21 May 2012 with 60.22% of votes in a runoff election. He was re-elected with 57.87% of the votes.

Federico Pizzarotti
Federico Pizzarotti during a visit to Parma by Aung San Suu Kyi
Pizzarotti in 2013
Mayor of Parma
In office
25 May 2012 – 1 July 2022
Preceded byPietro Vignali
Succeeded byMichele Guerra
Personal details
Born (1973-10-07) 7 October 1973 (age 51)
Parma, Italy
Political partyAz (since 2024)
Other political
affiliations
M5S (2009–2016)
IiC (2018–2022)
LCN (2022)
+Eu (2022–2024)
SpouseCinzia Piastri (since 2003)
OccupationProject manager, politician

In 2018, Pizzarotti founded his own party, Italy in Common (Italia in Comune, IiC). In 2022, he briefly joined the National Civic List (Lista Civica Nazionale, LCN) within Italy Is There (L'Italia c'è, LIC), before he left for More Europe (Più Europa, +Eu), where he was elected president in February 2023. In April 2024, he left +Eu due to dissent ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election, and joined the Action (Azione, Az) party led by Carlo Calenda.

Early life and education

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Born in Parma, in the Emilia-Romagna region, Pizzarotti graduated in electronics from the "Primo Levi" Professional Institute for Industry and Craftsmanship. He worked for many years as a consultant for banks and financial institutions. At the time of his election as mayor, he worked as a project manager at Credito Emiliano in Reggio Emilia in the information and communications technology sector.[1]

Career

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Five Star Movement

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Pizzarotti began his political career in 2009, joining the newly formed M5S of Beppe Grillo and Gianroberto Casaleggio. With the M5S, he ran as a regional councilor in the 2010 Emilia-Romagna regional election but was not elected.[1] In 2012, Pizzarotti became the first M5S mayor in a provincial capital of Italy. In March 2012, he ran as the M5S candidate for the office of mayor of Parma in the 2012 Italian local elections, held between 6 and 7 May 2012, following the resignation of the centre-right coalition mayor Pietro Vignali and the administration of the city. In the first round, he obtained 19.47% of the votes and entered the runoff against the centre-left coalition candidate Vincenzo Bernazzoli, the then president of the province of Parma, who got 39.20% of the vote. On 21 May 2012, Pizzarotti became the mayor of Parma after he won the runoff with 60.22% of the votes.[2] In November 2015, Pizzarotti was appointed by the ANCI as president of the Environmental Policies, Territory, Civil Protection, Energy and Waste Commission.[3]

In October 2016, Pizzarotti left the M5S after years of tensions with the national leadership of the party that culminated in his suspension in February 2016. In his role as mayor, he had been among those investigated for abuse of office in an investigation into appointments at the Teatro Regio.[4] The investigation was made public in May 2016. On 13 May 2016, for not having disclosed the opening of the investigation and for his refusal to send the legal documents via email to the sender Grillo's staff, since he said they were anonymous,[5][6] Grillo's blog announced the suspension of Pizzarotti from the M5S, with the possibility of reply within ten days.[7] On 23 May 2016, Pizzarotti, contesting the suspension, sent his counterarguments and was awaiting a response.[8][9] On 16 September 2016, following the dismissal of the charges against him, he asked to be reinstated within the M5S;[10] as he received no response, and with the new regulations that were modified during the suspension, Pizzarotti announced that he was leaving the M5S on 3 October 2016.[11][12] Following his exit from the M5S, with the support of 18 out of the 19 councilors elected and who left the M5S with him, Pizzarotti founded the Parma Effect (Effetto Parma, EP) council group.[13]

Parma Effect, Italy in Common, and National Civic List

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After his departure from the M5S, Pizzarotti continued his mandate as an independent politician with the support of the city council group Parma Effect, which was composed of former M5S councillors who stood by their mayor. He ran for re-election through a civic list.[14][15][16] On 25 June 2017, after gaining access to the runoff, Pizzarotti was confirmed mayor of Parma for a second term by running as an independent supported by his civic movement Parma Effect. He defeated the centre-left coalition candidate Paolo Scarpa with 57.87% of the votes.[17][18] On 15 April 2018, Pizzarotti founded IiC as his political movement,[19] calling itself the Mayors' Party.[20] It ran in support of the centre-left coalition candidates in the 2019 Italian regional elections, such as in Abruzzo, Sardinia, and Piedmont,[21] which were won the by the centre-right coalition; apart from Piedmont, where it obtained 0.58% of the votes, it elected at least a councilor. The Abruzzo in Common movement, which was aligned in support of the centre-left candidate Giovanni Legnini, obtained 3.89% of the votes and elected a councillor.[22] The Sardinia in Common list, which was made up of Italia in the Municipality of Sardegna, Possible, Laura Boldrini's Futura, and Radicales Sardos, supported of the centre-left coalition candidate Massimo Zedda; it garnered 2.5% of the votes and elected a councilor.[23]

In the run-up to 2019 European Parliament election in Italy, Pizzarotti decided to run for Member of the European Parliament (MEP) within a joint list of IiC, +Eu, and other minor parties.[24] Initially, IiC had allied itself with the Federation of the Greens,[25] before it decided to ally with +Eu.[26] Pizzarotti was a candidate in the North-East Italy constituency for +Eu; he came second with 22,127 preferences but was not elected as the list did not exceed the minimum access threshold.[27] In 2022, at the end of his second term as mayor, he and Parma Effect supported the candidacy for mayor of his technical councilor for culture Michele Guerra, also supported by the centre-left coalition, who was elected as the new mayor.[28][29] Ahead of the 2022 Italian general election, Pizzarotti launched the LCN, a formation of centre-left coalition administrators that also included LIC, a political association founded by the Italia Viva (IV) deputy Gianfranco Librandi and former +Eu deputy secretary Piercamillo Falasca.[30][31][32] Pizzarotti's new political party did not need to collect signatures for the 22 September 2022 general election thanks to Matteo Renzi's party, whose group in the Chamber of Deputies changes its name on 1 August 2022 to Italia Viva − Italia C'è.[33] On 7 August 2022, Pizzarotti announced the alliance between the LCN and IV, which was ended on 22 August 2022 following disagreements over the composition of the electoral lists.[34][35] Pizzarotti would have been candidate in third position in the multi-member constituency Emilia-Romagna 2 behind the Calenda and Lisa Noja.[36]

More Europe and Action

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In November 2022, Pizzarotti announced his membership in +Eu and at the same time his presidential candidacy for the next congress to determine Benedetto Della Vedova's successor at the helm of the party.[37] In February 2023, he opposed the decision of the then current leaders, headed by Emma Bonino, to register the party brand in their name on 20 February 2022.[38][39][40] It was later clarified that this did not happen and was only a precautionary initiative.[41] During the third +Eu congress on 26 February 2023, Pizzarotti was elected president of the party with 203 votes, succeeding Riccardo Magi, who was elected the party's secretary.[42]

Following Magi's and +Eu's decision to join the United States of Europe list with Renzi's IV ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election in Italy, which Pizzarotti did not share, he left the party on 10 April 2024. He cited as reasons for his exit the alliance with Salvatore Cuffaro and his candidates, such as Cuffaro's brother-in-law Marco Zambuto, as well as Clemente Mastella's wife Sandra Lonardo, and Armando Cesaro, the son of Forza Italia (FI) politician Luigi Cesaro and former FI group leader in the Regional Council of Campania who was appointed head of IV's local authorities. He described them as "not very [pro-]'European' and very distant from our way of doing politics and our original mission".[43] Pizzarotti entered Az, Calenda's party,[44] and was joined by Falasca.[45] Pizzarotti was announced as the 2024 European Parliament candidate for Az's list We Are Europeans in the North-East Italy constituency.[46]

Personal life

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Pizzarotti's passions include information technology, theatre, and judo. He has been married to Cinzia Piastri since 2003.[1][47]

Works

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  • Incerti, Matteo; Pizzarotti, Federico (2012). Cittadini a 5 stelle. La partecipazione in rete che vince sui partiti (in Italian). Reggio Emilia: Aliberti Editore. ISBN 88-74-24951-9.
  • Pizzarotti, Federico; Serafini, Marta (2013). Il primo cittadino (in Italian). Turin: ADD Editore. ISBN 88-67-83060-0.
  • Frigeri, Marcello; Pizzarotti, Federico (2016). Una rivoluzione normale (in Italian). Milan: Mondadori. ISBN 88-91-81016-9.
  • Frigeri, Marcello; Pizzarotti, Federico (2019). Il meglio deve ancora venire (in Italian). Milan: Piemme. ISBN 978-88-566-7311-1.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Chi è Federico Pizzarotti". Il Post (in Italian). 7 May 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Parma − Ballottaggio − Elezioni Comunali 6-7 maggio 2012". La Repubblica (in Italian). May 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Pizzarotti presidente commissione ambiente Anci". Gazzetta di Parma (in Italian). 2 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  4. ^ Buzzi, Emanuele; Grandi, Annalisa (12 May 2016). "Parma, Pizzarotti indagato per abuso d'ufficio. 'Tranquillo, vado avanti'". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Pizzarotti contro lo 'Staff di Grillo'. E mostra le email". Gazzetta di Parma (in Italian). 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Pizzarotti, Taverna: 'E-mail anonima? Stessa dove ha inviato dati per la sua candidatura'". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Federico Pizzarotti sospeso dal M5s: 'Trasparenza è dovere'. Lui: 'Mi aspetto scuse dal direttorio'". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 13 May 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  8. ^ Sala, Alessandro (23 May 2016). "Pizzarotti: 'Sospensione illegittima. M5s? Non s'è fatto vivo, paradossale'". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  9. ^ Bia, Silvia (7 September 2016). "Federico Pizzarotti sfida il direttorio M5s. Su Parma: 'Lista civica? Ci sto pensando'". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Teatro Regio, il gip archivia Pizzarotti 'Era una scusa per sospendermi'". Corriere di Bologna (in Italian). 16 September 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  11. ^ "M5S: Pizzarotti, Grillo pensa a visibilità, non a governare". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 3 October 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  12. ^ Bia, Silvia (3 October 2016). "M5s, il lungo addio di Federico Pizzarotti: dal trionfo di Parma al mancato invito a 'Italia 5 Stelle'". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  13. ^ "M5S addio, nasce 'Effetto Parma': la lettera integrale". Gazzetta di Parma (in Italian). 11 October 2016. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  14. ^ Balestrazzi, Marco (21 January 2017). "Pizzarotti si ricandida con una lista civica". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  15. ^ Sarra, Chiara (21 January 2017). "Pizzarotti: 'Mi ricandido a sindaco di Parma'". Il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  16. ^ Salvini, Giacomo (22 January 2017). "La rivincita del 'Pizza', si ricandida a Sindaco di Parma". Termometro Politico (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Parma − Ballottaggio 25 giugno 2017". La Repubblica (in Italian). June 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Elezioni Parma: Federico Pizzarotti rieletto con il 57,87% dei voti". Gazzetta di Parma (in Italian). 25 June 2017. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Italia in Comune diventa partito: Pizzarotti presidente 'Esordio alle Regionali 2019'". La Repubblica (in Italian). 15 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Italia in Comune, nasce il partito dei sindaci. Il presidente è Pizzarotti. A maggio il simbolo. Obiettivo: elezioni". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 15 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  21. ^ Scola, Paola (6 April 2019). "Pizzarotti: 'Il sindaco è la figura di riferimento per le comunità'". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Crollo del M5s in Abruzzo, Pizzarotti: 'Finito il tempo degli slogan'". La Repubblica (in Italian). 11 February 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Pizzarotti: 'M5s paga incoerenza'. Sardegna in Comune al 2,5%". La Repubblica (in Italian). 25 February 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  24. ^ Martini, Fabio (15 April 2019). "Elezioni, Bonino e Pizzarotti accettano la candidatura: 'Più Europa' schiera i leader". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Alle Europee alleanza Verdi-Italia in Comune (Pizzarotti)". Gazzetta di Parma (in Italian). 11 January 2019. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Europee, Italia in Comune di Pizzarotti cambia idea: lascia i Verdi e fa l'alleanza con PiùEuropa. E correrà al fianco del Pd". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 26 March 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Speciale Elezioni Ue: liste, candidati ed eletti in Italia". La Repubblica (in Italian). May 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Parma − Ballottaggio − Elezioni Comunali 6-7 maggio 2012". La Repubblica (in Italian). May 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  29. ^ Fiorini, Filippo (26 June 2022). "Parma, finisce l'era di Pizzarotti: Guerra doppia il rivale". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  30. ^ "'L'Italia c'è', nasce l'associazione del deputato di Iv Librandi che vuole Sala leader riformista. Il sindaco: 'Ricostruzioni fantasiose'". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 18 June 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Pizzarotti lancia la Lista Civica Nazionale per il centrosinistra". La Repubblica (in Italian). 28 July 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  32. ^ Casadio, Giovanna (29 July 2022). "I sindaci in campo, Pd e Pizzarotti puntano su una schiera di primi cittadini. Ecco i nomi in lista". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Pizzarotti: 'La lista civica nazionale? Non avrà bisogno di raccogliere firme grazie a Italia Viva di Renzi'". ParmaToday (in Italian). 2 August 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Pizzarotti ritira la candidatura e rompe con la coalizione: 'Non ci sono spazi seri al di fuori di Italia Viva e Azione'". ParmaToday (in Italian). 22 August 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  35. ^ "Pizzarotti alla fine resterà senza seggio". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 22 August 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  36. ^ Capelli, Eleonora (23 August 2022). "Candidati in Emilia-Romagna: le liste per le elezioni 2022". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  37. ^ Casadio, Giovanna (1 December 2022). "Pizzarotti punta alla leadership di +Europa: 'Sì al dialogo con il Pd se Bonaccini sarà segretario: serve un'opposizione propositiva'". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  38. ^ "+Europa, scintille sul congresso. Bonino blinda il logo, ira Pizzarotti: 'Faccia passo indietro'". ParmaToday (in Italian). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Pizzarotti punta alla segreteria dei Radicali e in +Europa scoppia il caos". La Repubblica (in Italian). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Tensione in +Europa prima del congresso: Bonino blinda il simbolo, Pizzarotti insorge". HuffPost Italia (in Italian). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  41. ^ Marsiletti, Andrea (21 February 2023). "Bonino, Magi e Della Vedova registrano il logo di Più Europa a loro nome. Ma era solo un'iniziativa precauzionale, poi ritirata". ParmaDaily (in Italian). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  42. ^ "Magi eletto segretario di +Europa, Pizzarotti presidente". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 26 February 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  43. ^ "L'annuncio di Pizzarotti: 'Lascio +Europa, non condivido l'alleanza con Renzi'. E passa con Azione". La Repubblica (in Italian). 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  44. ^ Gagliardi, Andrea (10 April 2024). "Pizzarotti lascia Più Europa e si candida con Azione: sbagliata l'alleanza con Renzi". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  45. ^ Di Giuseppe, Lisa (10 April 2024). "Pizzarotti e Falasca lasciano Più Europa e si candidano con Azione". Domani (in Italian). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  46. ^ "Pizzarotti lascia Più Europa e si candida alle Europee con il gruppo di Azione". La Repubblica (in Italian). 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  47. ^ Severo, Marco (22 May 2012). "Quando in Comune entrano due sposi Chi è Cinzia Piastri, moglie del sindaco". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
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