Giovanni Kessler
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Kessler is an Italian politician
of the Democratic Party
. President of the Council of the Autonomous Province of Trento from December 2, 2008; since 2010 he seats at the head of the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF
).Previously he was a member of the Democratic Left
, and before a Christian Democrat. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies
from 2001 to 2006.
Giovanni is the son of Bruno Kessler (1924–1991), former president of the province of Trento and vice-minister to the Interior. He graduated in law at the University of Bologna
. In 1985 he became magistrate
and was deputy prosecutor in the courts of Trento and Bolzano. Between 1995 and 1996 he worked in Caltanissetta
(Sicily
) at the anti-mafia Directorate.
He was elected Deputy in 2001, taking part in the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on the Telekom Serbia affair (an ungrounded allegation of fraud upon the ruling centre-left government) but was not re-candidated to the next election
. He was Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) from 2003 in 2006.
He is a supporter of the Democratic Party and has strongly criticized the choice of Dellai
, President of the Autonomous Province of Trento, not to enter the PD in Trentino. In the party primaries, has supported the candidacy of Rosy Bindi
against Walter Veltroni
.
From September 2006 till August 2008 he was High Commissioner to Combat Counterfeiting, appointed by Romano Prodi
as proposed by the Minister of Economic Development Pier Luigi Bersani
.
It was elected to the Provincial Council on the 9 November 2008 in the ranks of the Democratic Party of Trentino, obtaining 4789 personal preferences. On December 2, 2008 he was elected chairman of the Council of the Autonomous Province of Trento.
On 20 October 2009 he succeeds to Herwig van Staa
(Tyrol
) at the head of CALRE (Conference of Regional Legislative Assemblies of 'European Union
) with an ambitious programme of improving the ability of regional assemblies to participate in the decision-making of the Union.
In 2009 he starts with Dieter Steger (SVP
) and Herwig van Staa
(ÖVP), chairmen of the legislative assemblies of South Tyrol
and Tyrol, the project of a Euroregion
that, for the three territories, would represent a recovery of historical Tyrol
. The project takes place October 29, 2009 at the XIV Dreier Landtag. In this joint session, the legislative assemblies of the autonomous provinces of Trentino and South Tyrol
and Tyrol
unanimously approved the Euroregion Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino.
Since December 2010, he seats at the head of OLAF
, the Anti-Fraud office of the European Union
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Italy)
The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
. President of the Council of the Autonomous Province of Trento from December 2, 2008; since 2010 he seats at the head of the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF
OLAF
The European Anti-fraud Office is charged by the European Union with protecting the financial interests of the European Union: Its tasks are to fight fraud affecting the EU budget, as well as corruption and any other irregular activity, including misconduct, within the European Institutions, in an...
).Previously he was a member of the Democratic Left
Democratic Left
Democratic Left, Democratic Left Party, or Party of the Democratic Left may refer to:-Political parties:*Democratic Left *Democratic Left *Democratic Left *Democratic Left *Democratic Left...
, and before a Christian Democrat. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
from 2001 to 2006.
Giovanni is the son of Bruno Kessler (1924–1991), former president of the province of Trento and vice-minister to the Interior. He graduated in law at the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
. In 1985 he became magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
and was deputy prosecutor in the courts of Trento and Bolzano. Between 1995 and 1996 he worked in Caltanissetta
Caltanissetta
Caltanissetta is a city and comune located on the western interior of Sicily, capital of the province of Caltanissetta...
(Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
) at the anti-mafia Directorate.
He was elected Deputy in 2001, taking part in the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on the Telekom Serbia affair (an ungrounded allegation of fraud upon the ruling centre-left government) but was not re-candidated to the next election
Italian general election, 2006
In the Italian general election, 2006 for the renewal of the two Chambers of the Parliament of Italy held on April 9 and April 10, 2006 the incumbent prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, leader of the center-right House of Freedoms, was narrowly defeated by Romano Prodi, leader of the center-left The...
. He was Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) from 2003 in 2006.
He is a supporter of the Democratic Party and has strongly criticized the choice of Dellai
Lorenzo Dellai
Lorenzo Dellai is an Italian politician, the governor of the province of Trentino and the President of the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol....
, President of the Autonomous Province of Trento, not to enter the PD in Trentino. In the party primaries, has supported the candidacy of Rosy Bindi
Rosy Bindi
Maria Rosaria Bindi, best known as Rosy Bindi is an Italian politician and the current President of the Democratic Party.-Career:...
against Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni, Knight Grand Cross, is an Italian writer, journalist and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009. He served as Mayor of Rome from 2001 to 2008.-Biography:Walter Veltroni was...
.
From September 2006 till August 2008 he was High Commissioner to Combat Counterfeiting, appointed by Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
as proposed by the Minister of Economic Development Pier Luigi Bersani
Pier Luigi Bersani
Pier Luigi Bersani is an Italian politician and the current Secretary of the Democratic Party of Italy, the main center-left political party in Italy . He was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 to 1999, Minister of Transports from 1999 to 2001, and Minister of Economic...
.
It was elected to the Provincial Council on the 9 November 2008 in the ranks of the Democratic Party of Trentino, obtaining 4789 personal preferences. On December 2, 2008 he was elected chairman of the Council of the Autonomous Province of Trento.
On 20 October 2009 he succeeds to Herwig van Staa
Herwig van Staa
Herwig van Staa was the governor of Tyrol from 2002 to 2008.Van Staa was born in Linz, Upper Austria . His father, who came from the Rhine area, worked as a technician in the steelworks in Linz and died in a sick bay in 1943 after military action on the Eastern Front. His mother came from an...
(Tyrol
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
) at the head of CALRE (Conference of Regional Legislative Assemblies of 'European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
) with an ambitious programme of improving the ability of regional assemblies to participate in the decision-making of the Union.
In 2009 he starts with Dieter Steger (SVP
South Tyrolean People's Party
The South Tyrolean People's Party is a regionalist Christian democratic political party active in the Italian province of South Tyrol.Founded in 1945, the SVP represents the German-speaking population of the province, as well as Ladin speakers. Since the first election of the Provincial Council in...
) and Herwig van Staa
Herwig van Staa
Herwig van Staa was the governor of Tyrol from 2002 to 2008.Van Staa was born in Linz, Upper Austria . His father, who came from the Rhine area, worked as a technician in the steelworks in Linz and died in a sick bay in 1943 after military action on the Eastern Front. His mother came from an...
(ÖVP), chairmen of the legislative assemblies of South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
and Tyrol, the project of a Euroregion
Euroregion
In European politics, the term Euroregion usually refers to a transnational co-operation structure between two contiguous territories located in different European countries. Euroregions represent a specific type of cross-border region.-Scope:...
that, for the three territories, would represent a recovery of historical Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
. The project takes place October 29, 2009 at the XIV Dreier Landtag. In this joint session, the legislative assemblies of the autonomous provinces of Trentino and South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
and Tyrol
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
unanimously approved the Euroregion Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino.
Since December 2010, he seats at the head of OLAF
OLAF
The European Anti-fraud Office is charged by the European Union with protecting the financial interests of the European Union: Its tasks are to fight fraud affecting the EU budget, as well as corruption and any other irregular activity, including misconduct, within the European Institutions, in an...
, the Anti-Fraud office of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.