Luca Volontè
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Short description|Italian politician (born 1966)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Luca Volontè
| office = Member of the Chamber of Deputies
| image = Luca Volontè par Claude Truong-Ngoc juin 2013.jpg
| parliamentarygroup = CCD-CDU (1996–2002)
UdC (2002–2013)
| termend = 14 March 2013
| termstart = 9 May 1996
| alma_mater = University of Milan
| education = Degree in political science
| constituency = Lombardy 2 (1993–2017)
| party = UdC (from 2002)
| otherparty = DC (to 1994)
PPI (1994–1995)
CDU (1995–2002)
}}
Luca Volontè (born 17 March 1966) is an Italian politician, born in Saronno (Lombardy), a graduate in Political Science from the University of Milan, formerly a member of the Union of the Centre.
Political career
In 1994, Luca Volontè became in charge of the local entities in the Italian Popular Party (PPI). He followed Rocco Buttiglione in the split from the PPI, which led to the foundation of the CDU, where he became an organizational manager.
Luca Volontè was elected to the Chamber of Deputies from the second constituency of Lombardy during the elections of 1996. He was re-elected in 2001, 2006 and 2008.{{Cite web|title=Luca Giuseppe Volonte' / Deputati / Camera dei deputati – Portale storico|url=https://storia.camera.it/deputato/luca-giuseppe-volonte-19660317|access-date=11 March 2021|website=storia.camera.it}}
From 2010 to 2013 he served as Chairman of the parliamentary group of the European People's Party in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.{{Cite web|last=PACE|title=Mr Luca VOLONTÈ|url=https://pace.coe.int/en/members/6400/volonte}}
Corruption charges, conviction and acquittals
Following investigative reports, published by the European Stability Initiative on "Caviar diplomacy",{{Cite web|title=Caviar Diplomacy – How Azerbaijan silenced the Council of Europe {{!}} ESI|url=https://esiweb.org/publications/caviar-diplomacy-how-azerbaijan-silenced-council-europe|access-date=11 March 2021|website=esiweb.org}}{{Cite web|title=The European Swamp (Caviar Diplomacy Part 2) – Prosecutors, corruption and the Council of Europe {{!}} ESI|url=https://esiweb.org/publications/european-swamp-caviar-diplomacy-part-2-prosecutors-corruption-and-council-europe|access-date=11 March 2021|website=esiweb.org}} in June 2016, the Milan prosecutor's office brought charges against Luca Volontè on 2 episodes: money laundering and accepting bribes. In 2017, it was also revealed that Volontè had been involved in the Azerbaijani laundromat scandal - a complex money-laundering scheme used to pay off European politicians in an attempt to whitewash Azerbaijan’s reputation abroad. According to the Prosecutor's Office Volontè received €2.39 million to organise support for Azerbaijani officials in the Council of Europe.{{Cite web|date=24 July 2017|title=Corruzione, "immunità parlamentare non preclude perseguibilità". La Cassazione annulla proscioglimento Volontè|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/24/corruzione-immunita-parlamentare-non-preclude-perseguibilita-la-cassazione-annulla-proscioglimento-volonte/3751620/|access-date=11 March 2021|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it-IT}}{{Cite web|date=25 June 2016|title=Corruzione, "tangente da due milioni dall'Azerbaijan": indagato a Milano ex Udc Volontè|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/06/25/corruzione-tangente-da-due-milioni-dallazerbaijan-indagato-a-milano-ex-udc-volonte/2859414/|access-date=11 March 2021|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it-IT}}
Part of the money went through Volontè's Novae Terrae Foundation to lobbies Iona Institute, CitizenGO (he was a member of its board), the ECI Mum, Dad & Kids initiative against equal marriage and Dignitatis Humanae Institute.{{cite news |last1=Norris |first1=Sian |title=The Money Men Behind CitizenGO’s Anti-Rights Agenda |url=https://bylinetimes.com/2021/06/21/the-money-men-behind-citizengos-anti-rights-agenda/ |access-date=13 November 2023 |work=Byline Times |date=21 June 2021 |language=en}}
In January 2021, Criminal Section X of the Court of Milan sentenced Luca Volontè to four years in prison for taking bribes from Azerbaijani politicians.{{Cite web|last=Ljubas|first=Zdravko|title=Italian Court Sentences Former Council of Europe MP for Bribery|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/13628-italian-court-sentences-former-council-of-europe-mp-for-bribery|access-date=11 March 2021|website=www.occrp.org|language=en-GB}}
On December 22nd, 2021 Volonté was acquitted of the accusation of money laundering, Verdict No.8364. On May 22nd of the same year the Court of Appeals in Milan acquitted him of the charges of corruption levelled at him as Director of the Novae Terrae Foundation, Verdict No. 3549, confirmed the following year by the High Court (Corte di Cassazione) on May 24th 2023, Verdict No.28227. The other charges have all been extinguished under the Statute of Limitations.José María Ballester Esquivias, Absuelto Luca Volonté tras siete anos de calvario judicial https://www.eldebate.com/internacional/20220528/absuelto-luca-volonte-siete-anos-calvario-judicial.html
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Volonte, Luca}}
Category:Deputies of Legislature XIII of Italy
Category:Deputies of Legislature XIV of Italy
Category:Deputies of Legislature XV of Italy
Category:Deputies of Legislature XVI of Italy