Beatrice Lorenzin
{{Short description|Italian politician (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Beatrice Lorenzin
| image = Beatrice Lorenzin (cropped).png
| office =Minister of Health
| term_start = 28 April 2013
| term_end = 1 June 2018
| primeminister = Enrico Letta
Matteo Renzi
Paolo Gentiloni
| predecessor = Renato Balduzzi
| successor = Giulia Grillo
| office2 = Member of the Senate
| term_start2 = 13 October 2022
| term_end2 =
| constituency2 = Veneto
| office3 = Member of the Chamber of Deputies
| term_start3 = 29 April 2008
| term_end3 = 13 October 2022
| constituency3 = Lazio 1 {{small|(2008–2018)}}
Modena {{small|(2018–2022)}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|10|14|df=y}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = FI {{small|(1996–2009)}}
PdL {{small|(2009–2013)}}
NCD {{small|(2013–2017)}}
AP {{small|(2017–2019)}}
PD {{small|(2019–present)}}
| alma_mater =
| spouse = {{marriage|Alessandro Picardi|2016}}
| nationality =
| children = 2
}}
Beatrice Lorenzin (born 14 October 1971) is an Italian politician belonging to the Democratic Party, former leader of Popular Alternative, and former Minister of Health from 28 April 2013 to 1 June 2018, in the governments of Enrico Letta, Matteo Renzi and Paolo Gentiloni. In 2018 she became one of the longest-serving health minister in the history of the Italian Republic.
Early life
Beatrice Lorenzin was born in Rome on 14 October 1971.{{cite web|title=XVI Legislatura|url=http://leg16.camera.it/29?shadow_deputato=302783|work=Italian Parliament|accessdate=12 June 2013}} Her father was Istrian Italian, forced to leave his home during the Istrian–Dalmatian exodus. After graduating from high school (classical lyceum),[http://www.governo.it/governo/gentiloni-paolo/ministro/beatrice-lorenzin Governo – Beatrice Lorenzin] she enrolled in the faculty of law, but did not complete her studies{{Citation needed|reason=There is not biography about this|date=May 2018}}.
Political career
Lorenzin works with the local newspaper "Il Giornale di Ostia",[http://www.corriere.it/politica/13_aprile_27/Lorenzin-ministro-salute-ritratto_d662d52c-af5e-11e2-a5a6-3fc36303fbd5.shtml Lorenzin, da Ostia al ministero della Salute. Il Corriere della Sera 27 Aprile 2016] before entering politics, joining in 1996 a local section of the youth movement of Forza Italia, the liberal conservative political party led by media magnate Silvio Berlusconi.{{cite journal|title=I nuovi responsabili della Salute|journal=Medical Network|year=2013|volume=XIII|issue=2|url=http://www.sumaiweb.it/f/68/json/14219|accessdate=12 June 2013|archive-date=13 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613154737/http://www.sumaiweb.it/f/68/json/14219|url-status=dead}} In October 1997 was elected to the council of Rome's 13th district. In April 1999 she became regional coordinator of the FI's youth movement. In May 2001, she was also elected town councilor of Rome, for the centre-right coalition. In 2005 she was appointed coordinator of the Lazio group of Forza Italia and served in the post until 2006.{{cite web|title=Lorenzin Beatrice|url=http://www.whoswho.eu/biografie.php?lan=eng|publisher=Who's who|access-date=20 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213152920/http://www.whoswho.eu/biografie.php?lan=eng|archive-date=13 February 2012|df=dmy-all}}
In the 2008 general election, Lorenzin was elected for the first time in the Chamber of Deputies, running in the centre-right People of Freedom, the new party led by Berlusconi.{{cite news|author=Alex Roe|title=Who Are Italy's New Ministers?|url=http://italychronicles.com/who-are-italys-new-ministers-mini-profiles-here/|accessdate=12 June 2013|work=Italy Chronicles|date=29 April 2013}} During the legislature she was a member of the Constitutional Affairs Commission and became a notable politician of the centre-right coalition.
=Minister of Health=
She was re-elected deputy in the 2013 general election; the elections resulted in a hung parliament, and no political coalitions had a majority of seats to govern alone.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/25/italian-election-results-live-coverage|title=Italian election results: gridlock likely – as it happened|date=26 February 2013|newspaper=Guardian|accessdate=27 February 2013}}{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21586340|title= Italy struggles with 'nightmare' election result|date=26 February 2013|newspaper=BBC News|accessdate=27 February 2013 }} So the two main parties, the centre-left Democratic Party, the centre-right People of Freedom, supported by the centrist Civic Choice, established a Grand coalition government, led by the vice secretary of the PD, Enrico Letta.{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/04/2013427161117980535.html|title=Deal reached on new Italian government|agency=Al Jazeera English|date=27 April 2013|accessdate=10 January 2014}}
On 28 April 2013 Lorenzin was appointed Minister of Health in the grand coalition cabinet.{{cite news|title=PDL secretary Alfano new deputy PM and Interior minister |url=http://www.agi.it/flash-news/articles/201304271757-pol-ren1040-pdl_secretary_alfano_new_deputy_pm_and_interior_minister |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624182001/http://www.agi.it/flash-news/articles/201304271757-pol-ren1040-pdl_secretary_alfano_new_deputy_pm_and_interior_minister |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 June 2013 |access-date=12 June 2013 |work=AGI |date=27 April 2013 }}{{cite news|author=Paul Virgo|title=Letta hails strong cabinet with 'record' women presence|url=http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/english/letta-hails-strong-cabinet-with-record-women-presence-no614778/|accessdate=12 June 2013|newspaper=La Gazzetta Del Mezzogiorno|date=27 April 2013|agency=ANSA|location=Rome|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021543/http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/english/letta-hails-strong-cabinet-with-record-women-presence-no614778/|url-status=dead}} Lorenzin succeeded Renato Balduzzi, an independent, who served in the technocratic government of Mario Monti.{{cite news|title=Govt bios: other ministers|url=http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/english/govt-bios-other-ministers-no471012/|accessdate=7 September 2013|newspaper=La Gazetta del Mezzogiorno|date=16 November 2011|agency=ANSA|location=Rome|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021545/http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/english/govt-bios-other-ministers-no471012/|url-status=dead}}
In May 2013 as Minister of Health she approved the decision to start testing the Stamina therapy, a controversial alternative "medical treatment" invented by Italian former professor of psychology.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurostemcell.org/story/scientists-raise-alarm-italian-government-rules-unproven-stem-cell-therapy |title=Scientists raise alarm as Italian Government rules on unproven stem cell therapy | Europe's stem cell hub |publisher=EuroStemCell |date= |accessdate=12 January 2014}} In that period rose up an intense pressure from the media and an increasingly insistent pro-Stamina street demonstrations;{{cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Jonathan |url=http://www.demotix.com/news/3524514/pro-stamina-stem-cell-treatment-protest-rome#media-3524356 |title=Pro 'Stamina' stem cell treatment protest in Rome |publisher=Demotix.com |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=12 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307180546/http://www.demotix.com/news/3524514/pro-stamina-stem-cell-treatment-protest-rome#media-3524356 |archive-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead }} while the Italian and international scientific community contested the government's decision.{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/salute/speciali/2013/staminali/notizie/veronesi-stop-sperimentazione_131bc39c-e89a-11e2-ae02-fcb7f9464d39.shtml |title=Veronesi: sperimentazione su Stamina è un errore, politici trascinati dalla piazza |publisher=Corriere.it |date= 9 July 2013|accessdate=12 January 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newsmagazine.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1367%3Adalla-terapia-di-bella-al-metodo-stamina-un-conflitto-tra-scienza-e-coscienza&catid=58%3Afootball&Itemid=3&lang=it |title=Dalla "terapia Di Bella" al "metodo Stamina": un conflitto tra scienza e coscienza |publisher=Newsmagazine.it |date= |accessdate=12 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109014809/http://www.newsmagazine.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1367%3Adalla-terapia-di-bella-al-metodo-stamina-un-conflitto-tra-scienza-e-coscienza&catid=58%3Afootball&Itemid=3&lang=it |archive-date=9 January 2014 |url-status=dead }} However the tests ended in October 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/cronache/14_ottobre_02/stamina-comitato-esperti-boccia-metodo-no-sperimentazione-84afe122-4a74-11e4-9fe4-a545a65e6beb.shtml |title=Stamina, il comitato di esperti boccia il metodo: no alla sperimentazione |publisher=Corriere della Sera |date=2 October 2014 |accessdate=9 March 2017}}
In November 2013, Lorenzin and other People of Freedom ministers, known as "doves", who were strong supporters of Letta's government, refused to join the new Forza Italia (FI), founded upon the dissolution of the PdL by Berlusconi.[http://www.agenpress.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5028:ncd-lorenzin-berlusconi-rimane-nostro-leader-schifani-e-una-strada-diversa-ma-parallela-schifani-non-faremo-centrini&catid=85&Itemid=472 Lorenzin. Berlusconi rimane nostro leader. Schifani] Agen Press 17 November 2013{{cite news|title=What the Alfano-Berlusconi split means for Italian politics|url=http://suffragio.org/2013/11/18/what-the-alfano-berlusconi-split-means-for-italian-politics/|accessdate=20 November 2013|work=Suffragio|date=18 November 2013|author=Kevin Lees}} All five PdL ministers, three under-secretaries, 30 senators and 27 deputies immediately joined a new party called New Centre-Right, led by the Interior Minister Angelino Alfano.{{Citation |url=http://www.ilmessaggero.it/PRIMOPIANO/POLITICA/alfano_nuovo_centrodestra/notizie/360466.shtml|newspaper=Il Messaggero |title=Alfano lancia il Nuovo centrodestra: "No a Fi per me scelta dolorosa. No a decadenza Berlusconi" |language=Italian |date=16 November 2013|accessdate=16 November 2013}}
File:Agnès Buzyn-Beatrice Lorenzin G7 Milan.jpg, in November 2017.]]
On 13 February 2014, following tensions with his rival and new Secretary of the Democratic Party, Matteo Renzi, Letta announced he would resign as Prime Minister the following day. On 22 February Renzi was sworn in as Prime Minister and Lorenzin was confirmed as Health Minister.{{cite news|author1=Andrew Frye|author2=Chiara Vasarri|title=Renzi Sworn in as Italian {{sic|Premeir|nolink=y}} After Toppling Letta|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-21/renzi-accepts-italian-premiership-after-bringing-down-letta.html|work=Bloomberg News|accessdate=14 July 2014|date=22 February 2014}}
In May 2014 Lorenzin run for the European Parliament in Central Italy, gained merely 33,437 votes and therefore was not elected.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/lorenzin-si-lega-pd-guidare-regione-lazio-1440576.html|title = La Lorenzin si lega al Pd per guidare la Regione Lazio|date = 12 September 2017}}
In June 2016 Lorenzin supported Alfio Marchini (as well supported by Silvio Berlusconi) as a candidate to become Mayor of Rome: in this occasion Lorenzin party had a disastrous electoral result, gathering just 15.458 votes in all Rome area (1,29% of total){{Cite web|url=http://www.romatoday.it/politica/elezioni/comunali-roma-2016/x-municipio-risultati-elezioni-2016.html|title = Ostia punisce il Pd. La Raggi sbanca nel X Municipio, male Marchini e Meloni}}
On 12 December 2016, when Renzi resigned as Prime Minister after the constitutional referendum, Lorenzin was confirmed as Health Minister by the new Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, member of the same political party of Renzi(PD).{{Cite web |url=http://it.reuters.com/article/topNews/idITKBN1420P4 |title=Gentiloni presenta governo, Padoan confermato all'Economia |access-date=19 December 2017 |archive-date=8 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208122525/https://it.reuters.com/article/topNews/idITKBN1420P4 |url-status=dead }}
In March 2017 she joined Alfano's new centrist party, Popular Alternative (AP).[http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2017/03/18/ncd-finisce-nasce-alternativa-popolare_88487beb-aee6-4b26-adc1-512f8988d102.html Ncd finisce, nasce Alternativa Popolare]
On 19 May 2017, the Council of Ministers, on her proposal, approved a decree law containing urgent vaccine prevention measures that reintroduces the mandatory vaccination, bringing the number of mandatory vaccines from 4 to 12 and not allowing those who have not been vaccinated to attend school.{{cite web|url=http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/vaccini/gentiloni-vaccini-obbligatori-sanzioni-per-i-trasgressori/276298/276880|title=Gentiloni: 'Vaccini obbligatori. Sanzioni per i trasgressori'|date=19 May 2017|website=Repubblica Tv - la Repubblica.it|accessdate=14 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/salute/2017/05/19/news/vaccini_oggi_testo_in_cdm_boschi_no_scherzi_su_salute-165815370/|title=Vaccini, approvato il decreto sull'obbligo fin da nidi e materne|date=19 May 2017|publisher=|accessdate=14 September 2017}}
In December 2017 Alfano announced that he would not stand in the 2018 general election and Popular Alternative suffered the split of a large centre-right faction, whose members wanted to re-align with the centre-right coalition. The rump of the party continued its alliance with the Democratic Party, by formally entering the centre-left coalition, and, with Alfano's backing, Lorenzin, became AP's de facto leader on 17 December 2017.{{Cite web |url=http://www.quotidianodelsud.it/calabria/politica/2017/12/17/alleanza-popolare-gentile-neo-coordinatore-nazionale-beatrice-lorenzin |title=Alleanza Popolare, Gentile neo coordinatore nazionale «Beatrice Lorenzin è la nostra leadership di riferimento» |access-date=19 December 2017 |archive-date=30 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230013421/http://www.quotidianodelsud.it/calabria/politica/2017/12/17/alleanza-popolare-gentile-neo-coordinatore-nazionale-beatrice-lorenzin |url-status=dead }} On 29 December she launched Popular Civic List, a centrist joint list formed by AP, Centrists for Europe, Solidary Democracy and Italy of Values;[http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/12/29/news/nasce_la_lista_centrista_alleata_col_pd_sara_guidata_da_lorenzin-185423728/ Nasce "Civica popolare", lista centrista alleata col PD: sarà guidata dalla Lorenzin] on the same day Lorenzin was elected leader.[http://www.adnkronos.com/fatti/politica/2017/12/29/rinasce-margherita-lorenzin-nel-simbolo_dPCzgxKZ9DpkzrzAOKiaqL.html Nasce 'Civica popolare', guida a Lorenzin]
Beatrice Lorenzin run in the general election of 4 March in Modena, a traditionally leftist area in Northern Italy,[http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/01/27/news/elezioni_conferme_esclusioni_new_entry_partito_per_partito-187420598/ Elezioni, conferme, esclusioni e new entry per ogni partito] and has won only thanks to the vote of the Democratic Party, while her own list took only 0.5% of the votes.[http://freeweed.it/beatrice-lorenzin-eletta-deputato-nel-collegio-uninominale-modena-grazie-ai-voti-europa-partito-democratico/ Lorenzin elected only thanks to PD votes]
In September 2019, Lorenzin joined the Democratic Party.[https://www.ilpost.it/2019/09/19/beatrice-lorenzin-partito-democratico/ Beatrice Lorenzin entrerà nel Partito Democratico]
Controversies
In August 2016 Beatrice Lorenzin announced the celebration of a 'Fertility day' for the following 22 September,{{cite web|title=Fertility Day|url=http://leg16.camera.it/29?shadow_deputato=302783|work=Ministero della Salute|accessdate=23 September 2016}} but the images chosen for the campaign were perceived as offensive in Italy{{cite web|title=Saviano e web contro Fertility day, insulta chi non ha figli|url=http://www.ansa.it/saluteebenessere/notizie/rubriche/salute/2016/08/31/saviano-e-web-contro-fertility-day-insulta-chi-non-ha-figli_c40979c7-a4d9-4bdc-9a0b-0062a25cb5c2.html|work=ansa.it|date=31 August 2016|accessdate=23 September 2016}} and abroad.{{cite web|title=Italy's fertility day posters aren't just sexist – they're echoes of a fascist past|url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/05/italys-fertility-day-posters-sexist-echoes-of-fascist-past|work=The Guardian|date= 5 September 2016|accessdate=23 September 2016}} A second pamphlet issued by the Ministry after the first controversy raised a further wave of outrage as perceived as racist.{{cite web|title=Fertility Day, nuovo opuscolo scatena la bufera sui social. Mentana: "E' da tribunale di Norimberga della pubblicità regresso"|url= http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/09/21/fertility-day-nuova-bufera-sui-social/3047817/|work=ilFattoquotidiano.it|date= 21 September 2016|accessdate=23 September 2016}}{{cite web|title="Messaggi razzisti". Ritirato l'opuscolo sul Fertility Day|url=http://www.corriere.it/cronache/16_settembre_22/messaggi-razzisti-ritirato-l-opuscolo-fertility-day-lorenzin-salute-f455a692-8082-11e6-8c4f-1739fe9f1372.shtml|work=Corriere.it|date=22 September 2016|accessdate=23 September 2016}} The pamphlet was withdrawn and the responsible for the communication of the Ministry, Daniela Rodorigo, was fired in September 2016.{{cite web|title=Fertility day, bufera su opuscolo "razzista". Lorenzin lo ritira e apre indagine|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2016/09/21/news/fertility_day_mozione_di_sel-sinistra_italiana_cancellare_la_vecchia_campagna_-148217942/?ref=HREC1-2|work=Repubblica.it|date = 21 September 2016|accessdate=23 September 2016}}{{cite web|title=Fertility Day, Lorenzin 'licenzia' direttore comunicazione dopo le polemiche per il nuovo opuscolo "razzista" |url= http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/09/21/fertility-day-lorenzin-licenzia-direttore-comunicazione-dopo-le-polemiche-per-il-nuovo-opuscolo-razzista/3047805/|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|date= 21 September 2016|accessdate=23 September 2016}}
References
{{Reflist|33em}}
External links
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{{s-bef|before=Renato Balduzzi}}
{{s-ttl|title=Italian Minister of Health|years=2013–2018}}
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{{Letta Cabinet}}
{{Renzi Cabinet}}
{{Gentiloni Cabinet}}
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Category:Politicians from Rome
Category:Forza Italia politicians
Category:The People of Freedom politicians
Category:New Centre-Right politicians
Category:Popular Alternative politicians
Category:Ministers of health of Italy
Category:Deputies of Legislature XVI of Italy
Category:Deputies of Legislature XVII of Italy
Category:Deputies of Legislature XVIII of Italy
Category:21st-century Italian women politicians