Angelino Alfano

As Foreign Minister, Alfano announced the return of Italy's ambassador to Cairo while the investigation into Giulio Regeni's abduction and murder remained incomplete. The Regeni family condemned the decision as 'resa incondizionata' and feared it would weaken pressure on Egypt.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

During the civil unions debate, Alfano and his NCD party opposed allowing a partner to adopt the other partner's biological child. The dispute threatened the stability of Renzi's governing majority and contributed to removing the provision from the final legislation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In 2016, Alfano was formally investigated for abuse of office over the transfer of prefect Fernando Guida from Enna to Isernia while Guida was conducting checks into the foundation of Kore University.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the Labirinto investigation, intercepted conversations involving third parties referred to Alfano's father and dozens of CVs forwarded for employment, as well as alleged interventions by people close to him. The opposition demanded the minister's resignation, and allegations of family patronage sparked intense controversy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Alfano sent prefects a circular instructing them to annul the registration by certain mayors of same-sex marriages performed abroad. Several mayors announced that they would refuse to comply, and the issue caused conflict within the governing majority.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

During the trial concerning alleged State–mafia negotiations, cooperating witness Carmelo D'Amico testified that Alfano was reportedly among politicians elected with Cosa Nostra votes, saying he had learned this through conversations overheard in prison.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

A wedding video filmed in 1996 and made public years later shows the young Alfano, then a regional politician, attending the wedding of Croce Napoli's daughter. Sources describe Napoli as a mafia boss in Palma di Montechiaro, and the footage shows Alfano greeting him affectionately.

Presenting a directive against illegal street trading and counterfeiting, Alfano referred to 'orde di vu' cumprà' allegedly harassing Italians. The choice of words caused national controversy and was condemned as racist or contemptuous by several politicians and Catholic organisations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following clashes in Rome between police and workers from Terni's AST steelworks, several protesters were injured. Footage showing an order to charge reignited controversy over Alfano's initial account to Parliament, prompting SEL and M5S to submit a no-confidence motion.

Attribution

Political responsibility

Alfano announced the end of Italy's Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue operation as the European Triton operation expanded. Amnesty International and others warned that Triton did not have the same rescue mandate and that ending Mare Nostrum would put lives at risk.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Italian police expelled Alma Shalabayeva, wife of a Kazakh opposition figure, and her daughter. The operation, carried out amid Kazakh diplomatic pressure, caused a serious crisis and a no-confidence motion against Alfano.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Law 124/2008, known as 'Lodo Alfano', suspended criminal trials of holders of the four highest state offices and directly affected proceedings against Silvio Berlusconi. It was strongly contested as an ad personam law.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The shortened-trial proposal supported by the governing majority and Minister Alfano imposed deadlines that could have resulted in many proceedings being terminated. The National Magistrates Association and opposition condemned the risk of sacrificing numerous trials and indirectly benefiting Berlusconi.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility