Rita Borsellino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rita Borsellino
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 7 June 2009 – 25 May 2014 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 June 1945 Palermo, Italy |
| Died | 15 August 2018 (aged 73) Palermo, Italy |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Relatives | Paolo Borsellino (brother) |
Rita Borsellino (born June 2, 1945 – died August 15, 2018) was an Italian activist and politician from Sicily. She worked against the Mafia and was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2009 to 2014. She belonged to the Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Activism
Rita Borsellino was born in Palermo, Sicily. She worked as a pharmacist there. In July 1992, her brother, Judge Paolo Borsellino, was killed by the Mafia in a bomb explosion.
After this, Rita started to organize and join events. These included public talks, rallies, and protests against organized crime. She even took part in events in France and Germany. For example, in 1994, she was in Paris with an Argentinian group called Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.
Her Political Journey
In 1994, Rita was asked to join Libera. This is an Italian group that works against organized crime. She became the vice-president of Libera in 1995. Later, in 2005, she was named its honorary president.
Rita also worked for peace. She attended international peace meetings in 2000 and 2002. In 1998, she became the president of Associazione Piera Cutino. This group helps medical research into a blood condition called thalassaemia.
Running for Governor
In 2005, some political parties supported Rita Borsellino. They wanted her to run for the president of the Sicilian region. She won a special election to become the candidate for a group of parties called The Union.
In the 2006 Sicilian regional election, she ran against the current governor. She did not win the election. However, Rita Borsellino was the first woman in Sicily to be nominated for this important position. She also received a very high number of votes for a candidate from her political group.
Becoming an MEP
In 2008, she ran for the Italian Senate but was not elected. In 2009, she led the Democratic Party list in the European elections. She then became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).
As an MEP, Rita Borsellino worked on a special committee. This committee focused on civil justice.
Later Elections
In 2012, Rita Borsellino ran in a special election to become the Mayor of Palermo. She had support from several center-left parties. However, she was defeated by another candidate.
She continued her work as an MEP. She also served on a special parliamentary group. This group looked into organized crime, corruption, and money laundering.
Awards and Honors
In August 2004, Rita Borsellino received the San Lorenzo Prize. This award was for her important contributions to society. She was also made an honorary citizen of several Italian cities. These cities include Florence, Offanengo, Massa Lombarda, and Crevalcore.
Her Passing
Rita Borsellino passed away on August 15, 2018. She died at the Civic Hospital in Palermo after a long illness.
