Biography of Antonio Di Pietro

Clean hands

October 2, 1950
Born on October 2, 1950 in Montenero di Bisaccia (CB), is the man symbol of that political season that goes by the name of "Tangentopoli". Antonio Di Pietro, the former policeman and magistrate in one piece, was the protagonist of difficult years, the hero of an exhilarating period but also the target of a political realignment occurred in a hot climate. On his name the Italy split in two: there are those who consider it a kind of Savior of the fatherland and who accuses him of destroying an entire political system in a manner not in line with the values guaranteed. Judgments that historians will have to confirm or to resize. The fact is, at the very least Antonio di Pietro is a great character and just take a look at his biography to figure it out. Hard to believe that a man of humble extraction like him, forced to emigrate to Germany to find work (and at the same time studying at night), could become the balance of an entire nation, the bump key with which the judicial system has disintegrated a political class that resisted nailed to the Chair for decades.
Retrace the steps of this extraordinary human story: Molise, as a teenager he spent a short time in Seminary in Sydney then moved to Rome where he graduated technical expert. Afterwards, because of the endemic shortage of work that plagued the Italy of those years, he emigrated to in Bomenkirch (Germany), where he works on the Assembly line in the morning, the afternoon in a sawmill and in the evenings he studied law. In 1973 returns to Italy and married Isabella Ferrara, which will give him a Christian, the first child. Civilian employee of the air force, he enrolled in law school, winning the long-awaited graduation in 1979. The first job with the new title in hand is to town clerk in a land of Como; Enter then in the 4th District Commissioner of Milan police where he was.
But Antonio Di Pietro is not a COP, and you see right away. Not only proves to have keenness and tenacity but also a particular flair in solving apparently impossible cases. It's Peter, for example, that solves the enigmatic case of the "monster of Leffe", revealing that behind the hand that had wiped out an entire family was the figure of a transfer. In 1981 the choice that will change his life and that will change the course of the country: he won the competition in the judiciary and, after a brief stint at the public prosecutor of Bergamo, switch to Milan prosecutors acting as Deputy Prosecutor, specializing in computer crime and crimes against the public administration. February 17, 1992, the day of the arrest of Mario Chiesa-Italian Socialist Party militant-begins the era of "clean hands". Bettino Craxi, then Secretary of the PSI, try to belittle the fact defining church a "rogue", but the investigation spreads and overwhelms unexpectedly around the world of politics. At the end of the affair will be over three thousand people investigated and the value of bribes and slush funds discovered will amount to trillions of lire.
Peter's name is chanted in the streets, now he's the moralizing of Italy. For himself the magistrate came from nothing had a different future. Strong popular consensus, decides to leave the judiciary and entering politics. In Milan he remained until December 6, 1994 when, at the conclusion of his latest indictment in the Enimont trial, takes off his gown, gets back his jacket and closes his career as magistrate. A few months before the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had offered him the Ministry of internal affairs in his Government. Peter begins to move into the political arena by free hitter, even if, as expected, someone tries to tarnish his image. Comes out unscathed from allegations of corruption and bribery, as well as various controversies.
In 1996 Romano Prodi wins the election and Peter becomes Minister of public works. After a few months though is forced to abandon the Congregation because investigated in Brescia as part of the investigation on the banker Pacini Battaglia. Acquitted back in politics in November 1997. L'Ulivo nominating it in the College of Mugello, left vacant by sociologist Pino Arlacchi, Director at the UN. Antonio Di Pietro WINS with almost 68% of the vote, compared with 16% of Giuliano Ferrara, a candidate for the pole and the 13% of Sandro Curzi, candidate of the Communist Refoundation. On March 21, 1998 presents the movement "Italy of values". Picks membership of some MPs and adheres to the mixed group. In the European elections of 1999 Prodi founded the "List of the donkey", part of a broader coalition of Democrats, and Peter decides to join. The training gets an excellent 7.7%, but in 2000 the former magistrate of iron goes to irremediable contrasts with Secretary Arturo Parisi. The former PM back therefore to move freely in the waters always chaotic and uncertain of Italian politics.
May 13, 2001 elections not sided with either of the two poles and announces a tough battle in the name of legality and democracy. Arrives at 3.9% and by a narrow margin doesn't enter into Parliament. Remains for some time a little shadow compared to the tumultuous scenery of Italian politics, but nonetheless a landmark not only for the media that I have chosen as a symbol, but for many citizens, who see in him a character always reliable and honest. In 2006 is presented in the elections with the party "Italy of values" by supporting the centre-left and its leader Prodi. The latter appointment of Peter Minister for infrastructure. During the elections of 2008, Di Pietro entered in coalition with the Democratic Party. Idv party gets the 4.4% to 4.3% in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, doubling its votes.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.