15 Facts About Rocco Buttiglione

Rocco Buttiglione is a Professor of political science at Saint Pius V University in Rome, and member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Rocco Buttiglione served as a minister for EU policies and then as Minister for Cultural Assets and Activities in Silvio Berlusconi's governments.

In 2005 Rocco Buttiglione received an honorary doctoral degree from Guatemalan Francisco Marroquin University for his commitment to the ideas of liberty.

Rocco Buttiglione was born in Gallipoli, Apulia, on the "heel" of Italy.

Rocco Buttiglione studied law in Turin and Rome and became a Professor of political science at Saint Pius V University in Rome.

Rocco Buttiglione was 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 in 1994 he became secretary of the Italian People's Party, the largest of the parties that emerged from the collapse of Christian Democracy, formerly the largest party in Italy since the Second World War, after the Tangentopoli corruption scandals.

Rocco Buttiglione eventually joined forces with Berlusconi and the Northern League, led by Umberto Bossi, to win the 2001 election.

Rocco Buttiglione was elected a Parliamentary Deputy for Milan in May 2001, and joined Berlusconi's new government as the European Union Policy Minister.

Rocco Buttiglione responded that while he considered homosexuality a sin, his personal opinion would not prevent him from moving against discrimination of homosexuals.

Rocco Buttiglione stated his belief that the family "exists in order to allow women to have children and to have the protection of a male who takes care of them".

Rocco Buttiglione's opponent was the incumbent Sergio Chiamparino, member of The Union.

Giampiero Catone, a senior aide of Rocco Buttiglione, has been charged with "fraudulent bankruptcy" in Italy; and faces inquiries into the disappearance of millions of Euros of Italian and EU funds.

Rocco Buttiglione later told the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute that he had been misquoted and clarified that he meant it was unlikely that Italy would ban abortion given its political situation.

Rocco Buttiglione stated that anti-abortion advocates should focus on reducing the demand for abortions by providing alternatives to mothers.