Pietro Grasso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pietro Grasso
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Grasso in 2012
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| President of the Senate of the Republic | |
| In office 16 March 2013 – 22 March 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Renato Schifani |
| Succeeded by | Elisabetta Casellati |
| Acting President of Italy | |
| In office 14 January 2015 – 3 February 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Matteo Renzi |
| Preceded by | Giorgio Napolitano |
| Succeeded by | Sergio Mattarella |
| Member of the Senate of the Republic | |
| In office 15 March 2013 – 12 October 2022 |
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| Constituency | Lazio (2013–2018) Sicily (2018–2022) |
| National Antimafia Prosecutor | |
| In office 11 October 2005 – 27 December 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Pierluigi Vigna |
| Succeeded by | Giusto Sciacchitano |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1945 Licata, Kingdom of Italy |
| Political party | PD (2013–2017) LeU (2017–2018) Independent (2018–present) |
| Spouse |
Maria Fedele
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 1 son |
| Alma mater | University of Palermo |
| Signature |  |
Pietro Grasso (born 1 January 1945), also known as Piero Grasso, is an Italian lawyer and politician. He is famous for his work against organized crime. He also served as the President of the Senate from 2013 to 2018.
In 2015, Grasso briefly became the Acting President of Italy. This happened when Giorgio Napolitano resigned. He held this important role until Sergio Mattarella was sworn in as the new president.
Contents
Pietro Grasso's Career
Fighting Organized Crime
Pietro Grasso spent many years working as a judge. He was very important in the fight against the Sicilian Mafia. In 1984, he became a judge in a huge trial known as the maxiprocesso. This was a very big trial against many members of the Sicilian Mafia.
The Maxiprocesso Trial
The maxiprocesso trial took place from 1986 to 1987. There were 475 people accused in this trial. Pietro Grasso helped write the final judgment, which was over 8,000 pages long. This judgment led to many people being sent to prison for a very long time.
After this big trial, Grasso became a consultant for the Anti-Mafia Commission. He also worked at the Ministry of Justice, helping with criminal cases. Later, he became a deputy prosecutor at the National Anti-Mafia Directorate. He helped lead investigations into serious crimes in Palermo and Florence.
National Antimafia Prosecutor
In 2005, Pietro Grasso was chosen to be the National Antimafia Prosecutor. This is a very important job in Italy. It means he was in charge of all investigations against organized crime across the country.
During his time as prosecutor, many people involved in organized crime were arrested. From 2000 to 2004, under his leadership in Palermo, 1,779 people were arrested. This included 13 of the most dangerous fugitives. His office also secured many serious convictions.
One of the biggest successes during his time was the capture of Bernardo Provenzano. Provenzano was a very powerful Mafia boss who had been hiding for over 40 years. He was finally caught in 2006, thanks to years of investigations.
"Mafia Lessons" Project
In 2012, Pietro Grasso hosted a TV show called "Mafia Lessons." This show was for young people. It aimed to explain how the Mafia works. The program taught about the rules, stories, and mysteries of the Mafia. It was a way to educate younger generations about the dangers of organized crime.
Becoming a Politician
After a long career as a judge, Pietro Grasso decided to enter politics. In 2012, he announced that he would run for election with the centre-left Democratic Party. He was elected to the Italian Senate in 2013.
President of the Senate
On 16 March 2013, Pietro Grasso was elected President of the Senate. This is a very important position in the Italian Parliament. As President, he was in charge of leading the Senate's meetings and making sure rules were followed.
One of his important decisions as President was related to a case involving former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Berlusconi was accused of trying to influence politicians. Grasso decided that the Senate should move forward with the case, even though some disagreed.
Acting President of Italy
On 14 January 2015, President Giorgio Napolitano resigned. Because of this, Pietro Grasso became the Acting President of the Italian Republic. He held this role for a short time, until Sergio Mattarella was sworn in as the new president on 3 February 2015.
In 2017, Grasso left the Democratic Party. Later that year, he became the leader of Free and Equal (LeU). This was a new group of left-wing political parties.
See also
In Spanish: Pietro Grasso para niños
