Previous Career
Rocco Buttiglione was born in Gallipoli, Puglia.
He studied law in Turin and Rome and became a Professor of political science at Saint Pius V University in Rome. He was also a professor of philosophy and acting rector at the International Academy for Philosophy in Liechtenstein.
Rocco Buttiglione first attained attention on the Italian political stage when he became secretary of the Italian People's Party, the largest of the parties that emerged from Democrazia Cristiana, formerly the largest party in Italy since World War II after the Tangentopoli corruption scandals, in 1994. The Italian People's Party had presented itself along with Mario Segni in a centre alliance, in which came third after Silvio Berlusconi's and the left-wing coalition.
In December 1994 the Berlusconi government came to an end asLega Nord left the coalition. Berlusconi, outraged that he had been ousted by the Parliament of Italy, unsuccessfully requested new elections. Berlusconi had tense relationships with Lega Nord's leader, Umberto Bossi, and all involved in what he called the "ribaltone" for many years, but eventually both Bossi and Buttiglione would join forces with him to win the 2001 elections.
Buttiglione was elected a Parliamentary Deputy for Milan in May 2001, and joined Berlusconi's new government as the European Union Policy Minister. From 2005-06 he was Minister for Cultural Assets and Activities.
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