1. Leoluca Orlando was born on 1 August 1947 and is an Italian politician.
12 Facts About Leoluca Orlando
1. 2.
Leoluca Orlando is best known for his strong opposition to the Sicilian Mafia during his mayoralty in the 1980s, which was publicly referenced in the media as the Palermo Spring.
3.
Leoluca Orlando graduated in jurisprudence and worked as lawyer and professor at the University of Palermo.
4.
Leoluca Orlando was a member of Christian Democracy, in the left wing of the party.
5.
Leoluca Orlando entered politics in 1976 as legal adviser to Christian Democratic reformer Piersanti Mattarella, who became president of the Sicilian Region in 1978.
6.
Leoluca Orlando attacked harshly Giovanni Falcone accusing him of having "kept closed in the drawers" a series of documents concerning the excellent mafia crimes.
7.
Leoluca Orlando denied any responsibility, and declared himself innocent, stating that the accusations against him were false.
8.
Leoluca Orlando was defeated by the centre-right candidate Salvatore Cuffaro.
9.
Leoluca Orlando subsequently joined the Italy of Values of Antonio Di Pietro with whom he was elected at the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
10.
Leoluca Orlando has been the President of the Parliamentary Commission for Regional affairs.
11.
In June 2018, in defiance of orders from the Italian government, Leoluca Orlando stated that he would allow the Aquarius, bearing 629 migrants rescued off the coast of Libya, to dock in Palermo.
12.
In 2020, Leoluca Orlando was nominated for the Four Freedoms Award, Freedom from Fear.