me, ALESSANDRA
If I had to choose one word to describe myself that would be determined. I live with determination and passion every aspect of my life: my job, my political engagement and my being a mother of two children, Guido and Margherita.
If I had to define myself from a political perspective, I would say I am progressive reformist. Nonetheless, I do not love classifications as in my life I have always had an independent attitude, even when that meant going against the grain.
My political engagement has developed over the years. I was not born dreaming of becoming a politician, but I embraced politics as I was growing and I learned to appreciate it when, as a little girl, I used to watch the political debates between my father and my grandfather. The former a communist, the latter a Democristian partisan.
2009-2013
THE CITY COUNCIL
OF VICENZA
MEMBER OF
2009-2013
MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF VICENZA
Having enrolled in law school during the Tangentopoli years, I graduated in Urbino with a thesis on criminology and, in particular, on family violence at the expenses of minors. Since 2001, I have been working as a civil lawyer.
My political journey began in 1989, when I became the first woman Secretary of the Vicenza Student Association. However, one of the key moments of my life was later on, in 2008, when I was elected in the City Council and nominated as the Vicenza Deputy Major and Alderman to the Instruction and Youth Policies.
PARLIAMENT
MEMBER OF
THE ITALIAN
2013-2014
2013-2014
MEMBER OF THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT
“Having run at the political election of 2013, I was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the Democratic Party (PD). I worked as rapporteur for the implementation of the “quick divorce” law. This reform was a great achievement as it was aimed at reducing the mandatory separation times, required for the divorce request, from 3 years to one and, in case of mutual divorce, to 6 months only.
2014-2015
MEMBER OF
THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
2014-2015
MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
My commitment to equal opportunities in the job sphere and in the society and the fight for reproductive rights did not stop and in May 2014 I was elected as a Member of the European Parliament with more than 230.000 preferential votes. As a member of the Parliament, I was the rapporteur for the maternity-leave and paternity-leave directive which aimed at securing the right for all fathers to a 100% paid leave in order for them to have the possibility to stay with their kids.
2015-2019
MEMBER OF
VENETO
REGIONAL COUNCIL
2015-2019
MEMBER OF VENETO REGIONAL COUNCIL
As the date of the 2015 regional elections was approaching, many citizens, local administrators, friends and party leaders asked me to run for my region, Veneto. After having participated and won the ballot in the primaries, receiving the 67% of consensus, I faced the political campaign, having to travel around all 579 municipalities of Veneto. Unfortunately, the results of the elections were not positive. Nevertheless, overall the experience of coming in such close contact with my region and its problematics was definitely valuable. In the four following years, I took care of the economic development and support of businesses while always keeping up with the rights and equal opportunities issues.
2019-OGGI
MEMBER OF
THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT
2019-OGGI
MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
In spring 2019, I decided to get back in the game representing the north-east region of Veneto in Europe. When I decided to run as a European Parliament candidate, I was driven by a strong sense of responsibility dictated by the historic moment. An historic moment in which the Community values and the Institutions were being hindered.
The Italians citizens believed in me and gave me the possibility to travel to Bruxelles, where I moved with my children to do the job at my best. However, I travel back and forth to Italy, as I believe that a continuous communication with the people I represent is essential.
At the European Parliament, I am member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. These are three fields, which I believe are crucial not only for Europe but also for Italy and for the future generations. Actually, the young generations continuously solicit Europe and the world to face the fight against climate change and it is thanks to them that now the New Green Deal represents the main goals of this legislature and a practical commitment for a green economic and social development.
Foreign policy is a key issue for our Union, because only if the 27 countries will speak with a common voice in this area, it will be possible to achieve results in the field of human rights, of migration, but also in our economic and geopolitical positioning in the world.
Moreover, there is the gender equality issue which I have always fought for at the local, national and European level as I strongly believe that only in a just society, where there are no inequalities, citizens can fully enjoy their rights and freedom.
Finally, at the Parliament I am the coordinator for the Social & Democrats group of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer, an important European fight. I would love to be the voice of all the patients, doctors, health professionals and researchers in the Parliament and to support them in this crucial challenge.