Stefano Cusumano
Encyclopedia
Nuccio Cusumano, is an Italian politician
whose most recent political appointment was to the Italian Senate
(April 26, 2006 - April 28, 2008) on the roster of the UDEUR party as one of thirty representatives for the Campania
constituency.
Born in Sciacca
(Sicily
), he holds a law degree and has worked as an entrepreneur and as a journalist.
In the course of his political career, he has held several government positions, including that of Undersecretary of State for the Treasury (then headed by Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
) during the premiership of Massimo D'Alema
, between 1998 and 1999.
In 1994, as a member of the Italian People's Party (PPI), he helped then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
survive a vote of confidence. He was one of four PPI senators who, against the instructions of their party, physically left the Senate room, rendering the house without a quorum
.
In 1999, while a junior Treasury Minister, he was arrested under allegations of corruption in relation to construction contracts for a hospital in Sicily. In 2007, the court in Catania
exonerated him completely.
On 24 January 2008, in the 2008 Italian political crisis
, Cusumano supported Prime Minister Romano Prodi
in a confidence vote, again against the instructions of his party, UDEUR. Another UDEUR senator, Tommaso Barbato, launched into a vicious verbal attack and had to be restrained from physically attacking Cusumano, who appeared to faint and was carried out of the house.
Expelled from UDEUR because of his decision, he joined the Democratic Party
. As a candidate in the April 2008 elections, he was not re-elected.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
whose most recent political appointment was to the Italian Senate
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
(April 26, 2006 - April 28, 2008) on the roster of the UDEUR party as one of thirty representatives for the Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
constituency.
Born in Sciacca
Sciacca
Sciacca , also Schiacca, is a town and comune in the province of Agrigento on the southwestern coast of Sicily...
(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,...
), he holds a law degree and has worked as an entrepreneur and as a journalist.
In the course of his political career, he has held several government positions, including that of Undersecretary of State for the Treasury (then headed by Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
dr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is an Italian politician and banker. He was the 73rd Prime Minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994 and was the tenth President of the Italian Republic from 1999 to 2006...
) during the premiership of Massimo D'Alema
Massimo D'Alema
Massimo D'Alema is an Italian politician. He is also a journalist and a former national secretary of the Democratic Party of the Left...
, between 1998 and 1999.
In 1994, as a member of the Italian People's Party (PPI), he helped then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
survive a vote of confidence. He was one of four PPI senators who, against the instructions of their party, physically left the Senate room, rendering the house without a quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
.
In 1999, while a junior Treasury Minister, he was arrested under allegations of corruption in relation to construction contracts for a hospital in Sicily. In 2007, the court in Catania
Catania
Catania is an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the homonymous province, and with 298,957 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in Sicily and the tenth in Italy.Catania is known to have a seismic history and...
exonerated him completely.
On 24 January 2008, in the 2008 Italian political crisis
2008 Italian political crisis
On 24 January 2008 Prime Minister of Italy Romano Prodi lost a vote of confidence in the Senate by a vote of 161 to 156 votes, causing the downfall of his government. Prodi's resignation led President Giorgio Napolitano to request the president of the Senate, Franco Marini, to assess the...
, Cusumano supported Prime Minister 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...
in a confidence vote, again against the instructions of his party, UDEUR. Another UDEUR senator, Tommaso Barbato, launched into a vicious verbal attack and had to be restrained from physically attacking Cusumano, who appeared to faint and was carried out of the house.
Expelled from UDEUR because of his decision, he joined 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....
. As a candidate in the April 2008 elections, he was not re-elected.