About Minister Roberto Maroni

Personal data and professional profile

Born in Varese on 15th March 1955 and resides there. He is married, with three sons. He graduated in Law and he is an attorney-at-law. In his professional career, he worked as a legal affairs manager for a U.S. multinational company. 

In his spare time, he plays the Hammond organ in the soul band ‘Distretto 51’.

Political profile

He is a member of the Lega Nord Padania political party. He joined the party from its very beginning and began his political career in 1979 working alongside his Party leader Umberto Bossi. He was District Secretary of the Lega Nord party in Varese and a member of the National Council of the Lega Lombarda party.

In 1990, he was elected to the town council in Varese and later he became a councillor in the first municipal council led by the Lega Nord party.

During the 11th legislature (1992-1994), he was appointed to the Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) as President of the Lega Nord parliamentary group. He then became a member of the following parliamentary bodies: 1st Standing Committee (Constitutional Affairs); Committee on the Rules of Procedures; Special Committee on reform bills concerning parliamentary immunity.

During the 12th legislature (1994-1996), he was appointed as Vice-President of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) as well as Minister of Interior during Silvio Berlusconi’s first Government.

During the 13th legislature (1996-2001), he was re-elected member of the Chamber of Deputies on the ticket of the Lega Nord Padania parliamentary group. He became a member of the following parliamentary bodies: 3rd Standing Committee (Foreign and European Community Affairs); Committee for authorizing lawsuits against Members of the Italian Parliament; 14th Standing Committee (European Union policies), Parliamentary Committee on Indictment Procedures; 1st Standing Committee on Constitutional Reforms.

During the 14th legislature (2001-2006), he was appointed as Minister of Labour and Welfare during Silvio Berlusconi’s second Government.

During the 15th legislature (2006-2008), he was elected President of the Lega Nord Padania parliamentary group at the Chamber of Deputies. He then became a member of the following parliamentary bodies: 3rd Standing Committee (Foreign and Community Affairs); Parliamentary Committee on the Security of the Republic of Italy; Parliamentary Delegation to the Assembly of the Council of Europe; Parliamentary Delegation to the Assembly of the Western European Union.

During the 16th legislature - the current one - he was re-elected member of the Chamber of Deputies on the ticket of the Lega Nord Padania parliamentary group and appointed as Minister of Interior.