Luigi Brugnaro (born 13 September 1961) is an Italian conservative politician and entrepreneur who has been the mayor of Venice, since taking office on 15 June 2015. Since July 2021, he is also president of Coraggio Italia (CI), a political party affiliated with the centre-right coalition.
Luigi Brugnaro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Venice | |
| Assumed office 15 June 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Giorgio Orsoni |
| President of Coraggio Italia | |
| Assumed office 14 July 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 September 1961 Mirano, Italy |
| Political party | Coraggio Italia |
| Alma mater | Iuav University |
| Profession | Entrepreneur |
Biography
Entrepreneurial career
Brugnaro was graduated in architecture at Venice IUAV.[1] He has been owner of the Reyer Venezia Mestre basketball team,[2] a past chairman of Confindustria Venice,[3] and also a former president of Assolavoro.[4]
Mayor of Venice
Brugnaro ran for the office as an independent politician,[5][6] assuming office on 15 June 2015.
Brugnaro has attracted controversy via his banning of 49 books about discrimination and homosexuality from the city's schools, including a French book on gay parenting entitled Jean Has Two Mums, and in declaring that there will be no gay pride parade in Venice.[7] Germane to these actions and statements he has engaged in a series of verbal back and forths with the entertainer and activist Elton John, who maintains a home in the city.[8][9][10]
On 24 August 2017, Mayor Brugnaro ordered Italian police to shoot anyone shouting "Allāhu akbar" on sight. In his statement, he said: "We need to increase our security when it comes to terrorism. We had four would be terrorists arrested in Venice a few months ago who wanted to blow up the Rialto bridge. They said they wanted to go and meet Allah so we will send them straight to Allah without having to throw them off the bridge, we will just shoot them."[11][12][13]
In 2018, Brugnaro successfully spearheaded a drive to charge a fee to be applied to day visitors to Venice. The fee approved by the Italian Parliament will vary depending upon the time of year of one's visit.[14] Brugnaro had said of the measure, "The tax will ...allow us to manage the city better and to keep it clean... and allow Venetians to live with more decorum".[15][failed verification]
After a large luxury passenger liner crashed into a cruise ship terminal in Venice during the first week of June 2019, Brugnaro said, "Once again it is shown that big ships cannot cross the Giudecca Canal."[16]
During the repeated flooding of the ancient city in 2019, Brugnaro said "Venice is on its knees" in describing the catastrophe and labeled the cause as global warming in stating that "These are the effects of climate changes."[17] Brugnaro is the owner of a Ferretti 1,000 luxury yacht.[18]
On 27 May 2021, he founded along with Giovanni Toti, Coraggio Italia, a new party joined by former members of Forza Italia, Cambiamo!, the League, and Democratic Centre.
References
- ^ "Luigi Brugnaro, Mayor". themayor.eu.
- ^ "Reyer Venezia: i doppi playoff di Brugnaro, candidato sindaco - Panorama". panorama.it. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "The center-right conquers once 'leftist' and iconic Venice thanks to an entrepreneur turned mayor". italy24.ilsole24ore.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "La nomina - Luigi Brugnaro, nuovo presidente di Assolavoro: "Colmare il ritardo italiano sulla somministrazione e diffondere la cultura della buona flessibilità"". job24.ilsole24ore.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "Luigi Brugnaro, the new mayor of Venice, wants to crack down on tourists | CityMetric". citymetric.com. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (15 June 2015). "Venice mayoral election result may open way for bigger cruise ships". The Guardian.
- ^ Miller, Michael E. (27 August 2015). "No gay pride parade in Venice, says Italian mayor amid feud with Elton John". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Sir Elton John slams the mayor of Venice for banning gay books | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Elton John Venice row: Mayor defends same-sex book decision". BBC News. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ Sarkar, Monica (20 August 2015). "Elton John slams mayor for gay books ban". CNN.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ Jack Moore. "Don't Shout Allahu Akbar in Venice or You'll Get Shot, Says Mayor". Newsweek. 24 August 2017
- ^ Venice mayor: Anyone shouting 'Allahu akbar' in St Mark's Square will be shot, Independent, Jon Sharman, 24 Aug 2017
- ^ Venice mayor: Anyone who shouts 'Allahu Akbar' will be shot, Fox News, 24 Aug 2017
- ^ Giuffrida, Angela (31 December 2018). "Venice to charge day-trippers up to €10 to enter city" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Carey, Meredith (2 January 2019). "Venice to Start Charging Day-Trippers in May". www.cntraveler.com.
- ^ "Venice cruise ship crash sparks panic, protests". www.cbsnews.com.
- ^ "'Venice is on Its Knees': Mayor Blames Worst Flood Tide in 50 Years on Climate Change".
- ^ "Brugnaro, il "Berlusconi di Venezia" si regala uno yacht e un partito. E salpa alla conquista del centrodestra". la Repubblica (in Italian). 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.