The Bronte parliamentarians

Placido De Luca, Francesco Cimbali, Vincenzo Saitta, Luigi Castiglione, Biagio Pecorino, Vito Bonsignore, Pino Firrarello, Salvatore Leanza, Nunzio Calanna, Franco Catania, Giuseppe Castiglione

Placido De Luca

Placido De Luca, born in Bronte on September 28, 1802 and died in Paris on November 1, 1861, was the first deputy of the City of Bronte (in the historical site of the House figure with the name of Pasquale Placido De Luca accompanied by a photo that portrays him with a long beard, see right).
Person of great culture, was - as we write on another page of our site - a distinguished economist and an internationally renowned jurist, brother of Card. Antonino Saverio (Apostolic Nuncio of Pope Gregory XVI and Pius IX at the Court of Bavaria) Vienna).

Author of important books on economic science and statistics he always advocated the principle of freedom of work and industry as a staunch defender.

De Luca was one of the 443 deputies who on March 14, 1861, by unanimity of votes, proclaimed Vittorio Emanuele King of Italy, approving the law establishing the Kingdom of Italy and the birth of the nation. In fact, he was elected to the first Italian Parliament in the College of Regalbuto (which also included Bronte), with 334 votes out of 455 voters.

Francesco Cimbali

Francesco Cimbali (Bronte 1860 – 1930). Doctor, Mayor of Bronte in 1895, 1903 and 1914, Provincial Councilor and second brontese Deputy  at Montecitorio (elected in 1893-95).

Was the third  of four brothers that reached high cultural levels in various fields: Enrico, (Bronte 1855 - 1887, lawyer and jurist); Giuseppe (1858-1924, jurist, philosopher and writer) and Eduardo (1862-1934, freelance journalist and professor of International Law).

Started his studies in Bronte In The Capizzi College, continued them in the Spedalieri Secondary school In Catania, to graduate in Medicine at Naples in 1880.

Soon begins to make well known his name with scientific articles in several magazines. It was a doctor in Florence and Rome (at the military hospital and to the Holy Spirit). In 1889, at the eve of obtaining the free teaching at the University Of Rome, he goes back to Bronte to cure the father Antonino (mayor of Bronte) struck by apoplexy.

He remains in the native town and devotes himself to politics, militating in the democratic party. In the national elections of 1890, obtains in the second college of Catania, about the 80% of the suffrages (3.316 votes) but his election was not validated for juridical cavils.

Was again elected deputy of the XIII legislature in 1893. He honored the mandate conferred to him making his voice heard in the heavy problems of the national life (made speeches about the military health service, the regime of the contests on university desks, the reform of the studies and the freedom of teaching).
He protected also the interests of the little Council Of Bronte: against the servility of the Prefect and the  Ministry Of The Interior towards the Dukedom, he presented also some interrogations "on the damaging slowness of the tutorial authority to order the urgent provisions of justice asked for by the Town Council".

To pull up the needy from the claws of the usurers, in 1910 he founds the  Popular Bank  "Enrico Cimbali" of which was, for many years, also president.

In 1914 was reelected Mayor Of Bronte (he had been already a mayor from 1903 to 1905) and Provincial adviser. Published the book "Political environment and reforms". He died in Bronte on February 26 of 1930.

Vincenzo Saitta

Vincenzo Saitta, lawyer and Member of Parliament was born in Bronte from Giuseppe and Luca Nunzia the 10th of Febbruary 1876.

At the start of his political career, a very young lawyer was often municipal adviser of the socialist party, standing out as an attentive and meticulous defender for the rights of brontesi against the duchy, “Bronte’s problem” of that time, “What does it represent? – wrote the Catania’s weekly “IL Fuoco” (anno I, n. 6 of 23rd December 1909) - Only the conflict between the strength of the feudatory against the rights of the poor.

Good for that country town in which a watchful sentry, an exemplary citizen, a man of heart, a truly upright and very clever man, could remain on guard and push forward a right that cannot be trampled on or tempered with. We are talking about the lawyer Vincenzo Saitta as much modest as valiant”.

The young lawyer Saitta, in July of 1902, during a meeting in favour of the candidature to Lord Major of the honourable Francesco Cimbali was wishing that Bronte’s people could give a solemn lesson to the municipality’s masters allied to that squire, the Duke Nelson”. (La Gazzetta della Sera, Catania, 18th. July 1902.

The lawyer Saitta had been also a provincial deputy (as they were called then) and, from 1921 to 1924, was the third Bronte’s Member of Parliament sitting in the Montecitorio Palace, when the Parliament was closed down after the Aventino’s affairs.

In July 1943, with the entry to Bronte of the allied army, Vincenzo Saitta was nominated commissioner of the Municipality by the English general Alexander.

He died in Catania the 1st of November 1957.

(On. Vincenzo Saitta,  Italian version)

Biagio Pecorino

Biagio Pecorino (Bronte 1909 – Catania 1983) was a famous surgeon, chief physician to the Castiglione-Prestianni Hospital of Bronte and the Vittorio Emanuele Hospital of Catania.

Elected in May 1972 with a large number of votes in the list of the Movimento Sociale Italiano. Was the first Senator from Bronte to seat in the benches of the Madama Palace, for three consecutive legislatures (VI, VII, VIII, until his death in 1983)
A profile of his personality was given to us by Nunzio Ciraldo, also from Bronte, political pupil of Pecorino and, above all, his undisputed friend:

«I was 14 years old when I first met him - writes Ciraldo - He was middle aged, tall and thin, with a little moustache, a kindly glance and an expression of “Country Gentleman”.

Nunzio Ciraldo, the sen. Biagio Pecorino and the on. Giorgio Almirante

Excellent surgeon, head physician of the Hospital V.E. of Catania; “u dutturi” (the doctor) for his fellow citizens….

He had two sons, Vincent, hill since berth, and Augustine. A political leader of the MSI - continues Ciraldo - he was a rousing orator for being a very helpful person, very attentive towards the less fortunate.Privately he practised his profession in a clinic of Macalle street and then in San Vito street, at Catania.

His was indeed a strange activity, as – specifies Ciraldo - either for friendship or for need, very few were the ones who paid for his services. And then, towards the end of the years ’60, his life changed radically.
Following one another he lost his son Vincent and then, in a tragic car incident, Augustine, a young university student in medicine on who he had put all his hopes. His look faded away, his shoulders bended and only his political commitment let him continue to live.

Since Augustine death – goes on the deeply moved Ciraldo, – he refused to come back to Bronte, where his son had studied at the Capizzi College. He used to come up every Sunday, taken by Angelo, (his driver to the end of his life), but he used to stop at the cemetery, where his sons were. His fellow citizen, however, got the habit to go and see him there: He used to look at analysis and X-rays, fix some appointments, exchange some greetings with friends and “comrades” and then back to the city…

Some of his properties were used to build at Catania an Institute for disabled young people, dedicated to his two sons, Vincent and Augustine.» (Luigi Putrino in “Bronte Eventi” n° 4, December 2003)

In addition to the many recognitions obtained during his fife, after his death, Bronte and Catania have dedicated to Biagio Pecorino two street names.

Giuseppe Firrarello

Pino Firrarello was born on August 9th, 1939 in San Cono (Catania), but it is an adopted brontese to all effects: from a very young age has lived and worked in Bronte, began here the first steps in politics (militating in the Christian Democracy) here he lives and got married.

Councilor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of the Bronte Council, provincial secretary assistant of the DC of Catania and then deputy to the Sicilian Regional Assembly where was elected in the list of the DC, college of Catania, in the 10th legislature, with 42.903 preferential votes and subsequently, in the same college, with 59.633 preferential votes over 241.659 of list (percentage 24,67).

As an alderman In the Regional Assembly he has covered many important tasks; he was also a member of 1st standing legislative Committee and some CEE Committee, vice-chairman of 3rd standing legislative Committee; president of 6th permanent legislative Committee.

Was elected a Senator in the Acireale College.14 on April 21st, 1996 (XIII Senate legislature). Initially member of the group Christian Democratic Federation -- CDU (from May 12th, 1996 to January 16th, 2000); from January 17th, 2000 he belongs to the Forza Italia group.

Has been a member of the fourth standing Committee (defense) from January 21st, 2000, of the eighth standing committee (public work, communications ) from May 30th, 1996 to January 20th, 2000, of the inquiry committee on the Mafia phenomenon from November 21st, 1996 to April 13th, 1999, of the inquiry committee on the waste disposal cycle from May 26th, 1997.

Has always been intensely involved in legislative and productive activity presen­ting, as first signatory, or cooperating to numerous DDL (over 100) and intervening on more than 50 bills.

Has presented personally, or with others, documents for the institution of parliamen­tary committees inquiring on the safety of the Italian railway system, on the crisis of the Ambrosian Bank, of the Naples Bank and the creditor banks of the "Ferruzzi Montedison" group, on the death of Don Giorgio Govoni, Bergamini and Ederoclide and, as first signatory, the DDL S.24 for the institution of a gaming house in the Town Council of Taormina.

In the last national elections of May 13th, 2001 was reelected senator In the College 14 of Acireale in The House of Freedoms with a very large majority of votes (75.509 votes or 52,9 percent ).

Proclaimed, on May 24th, 2001, senator in the current legislature [XIV] is member of the Forza Italia group and was elected, on June 6, Secretary to The Senate Chairmanship. From June 22nd, 2001 is also member of the IV standing committee (Defense).

Has also published a book: "A Country Town of the South".

In 2005 Pino Firrarello has again been elected Bronte’s lord Mayor during the administrative elections held in May, with the 58, 95% of votes.
In the last national elections of the 9-10th. of April 2006 (voting with the proportional system without preferences) he was re-elected senator to Madame Palace for the third time in the Sicilian circumscription with the coalition of The House of Liberties.
 

Nunzio Calanna

Nunzio Calanna, born in Bronte on July 6th, 1943, was deputized to the Sicilian Regional Assembly. Doctor in jurisprudence, in act he exercises the profession of criminal lawyer. Was elected in the list of the Socialist Party, college of Catania, with 2.246 preferential votes on 12.682 of list (percent 17,71).

Was adviser to the regional province of Catania, member of the National Leadership Of The Socialist Party and President Of The Committee for the access to administrative documents (L.R. 10/91).
To the area it was member of the Legislative Committee of the business of the CEE and vice-chairman of the Anti-mafia special Committee.

In his parliamentary activity he was the first signatory of 7 Disegni di Legge, 19 parliamentary questions (one concerned the opening of a second post office in Bronte), 2 parliamentary interpellations and 1 agenda and - as co-signer - of 16 bills of law , 7 parliamentary questions, 1 interpellation, 5 motions and 22 agendas.
At the last elections of the Sicilian Regional Assembly of June 24th, 2001 (XIII legislature) he presented himself on the lists of European Democracy and was not re-elected.
A year later, in the municipal elections of May / June 2002, he presented himself as mayoral candidate of the center-right coalition: at the ballot, with 5.129 votes (45.26%), he lost the challenge with the center-left candidate, Salvatore Leanza.
From May 2005 until March 2010 he held the position of Deputy Mayor (Giunta Firrarello).

Franco Catania

Franco Catania, deputized to the Sicilian Regional Assembly, is an entrepreneur, born in Bronte (Catania) the 1st of May, 1955.

Young entrepreneur in the textile industry succeeded, in few years. to establish himself in the production of designer clothes for known national and  international brands, assuring a job for hundreds of Bronte's young people.
He was the founder of the local branch of Forza Italia. Elected in the XIIth legislature in the list of Forza Italia, College Of Catania, with 8.403 preferential votes on 109.835 of list (7,65 percent). Vice-chairman of 3 standing legislative Committee; member of 5 standing legislative Committee.

In the last elections of the Sicilian Regional Assembly has been reelected to the ARS in the list of Forza Italia, College Of Catania, with 12.889 preferential votes June 24th, 2001 (XIIIth legislature).
He was the most voted in Bronte with 2.153 votes.

In this last legislature (XIIIth) it is enrolled on the Forza Italia group, is  President Of The College Of The Deputed Heads (from 02/08/2001) and Legislative Member Of The V Committee  for Culture, Formation and Work (from 07/08/2001). During April 2004 Franco Catania has left Forza Italia to join the coalition of Centre Left.

In the successive elections of the 28th. of May 2006 he was not re-elected, getting only 6585 votes while in Bronte he was the most voted with 2269 votes.

Giuseppe Castiglione

Deputized to the Sicilian Regional Meeting, Giuseppe Castiglione, born in Bronte  on October 5th, 1963. Official manager of company, reviser of the accounts, journalist and publicist.
He has had various experiences in the context of the community interventions, addressed to the small and middle-size companies and in the world of Associations and Catholic voluntary service.

Was municipal adviser to Bronte, member of the management Committee and President Of The Committee Of The Guarantors Of The USL no. 39 of Bronte. National adviser of the A.I.C.C.R.E (Italian association councils and areas of Europe).

Elected to the Regional Meeting in the list of the CDU, college of Catania, with 8.487 preferential votes on 52.611 of list ( 16,13 %). He was regional assessor of the 50th, the 51st and the 52nd Government, put in charge by the Industry Assessor-ship.

In the last elections of the Sicilian Regional Meeting of June 24th, 2001h (XIII legislature) was
reelected to the ARS in the list of Forza Italia, College Of Catania, with 18.023 preferential votes (record for  only preference). He carried off 1.412 votes in Bronte. In the current legislature (XIII) it is registered on the Forza Italia group and was elected Regional Assessor for Agriculture and Forests.

The last exceptional performance was his election to the European Parliament: in the last elections, (June 2004), the Sicilians sent him to Strasburg among the 78 Italian deputies to the European Parliament. Elected in the constituency of Sardinia and Sicily, Giuseppe Castiglione, one of the 16 European parliamentarians of “Forza Italia”, took 94.051 votes.

In the European Parliament he belongs to the group of the European Popular Party (Christian Democrats) and of the European Democrats: He is a Commission member for agriculture, public sanity and alimentary safety and is part of delegations for relations with Iran and the Popular Chinese Republic.

Since January 2006 Giuseppe Castiglione had been nominated vice coordinator of Forza Italia in Sicily and Commissary of the party at Messina; In February he was also elected national vice-president of AICCRE (Italian Association of Council, Communes and Regions of Europe).

An extraordinary success was in June 2008 the election as President of the Regional Province of Catania with 77.62% of the votes (there were 411,549, a real plebiscite).
He will be President of the Regional Province of Catania from 18 June 2008 to 30 October 2012. The year following the election he was the president of the Province with the highest approval in Italy according to the IPR Marketing survey on the appreciation of local administrators by citizens.

In 2013 he ran with the PDL for the election to the Chamber of Deputies (in the list of the Sicily 2 District he was in 3rd place) and, in the elections of 24/25 February, he was elected to the National Parliament, XVII legislature.

We still vote with the "infamous" Porcellum with the lists proposed by the parties to the "blocked" voters and with no possibility of expressing preferences (in the Sicily 2 constituency the PDL had 6 seats assigned).

On May 2, 2013, just over two months after the political elections, Giuseppe Castiglione, in view of the milestone of 50 years, was appointed Undersecretary of State for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies in the Letta government.

In 2018, with a "painful but also courageous" choice, Castiglione decides not to run again in the political elections: "I do not take the field of Politics - he declared -, but I do not resign from politics". "I prefer to engage in something else, I will devote myself to agricultural start-ups and the Mediterranean dimension of Sicily".

He reappeared 4 years later, in the general elections of September 25, 2022, running as the first of the four on the list, with the Action-Italia Viva-Calenda party in the Sicily 2 constituency, Collegio Plurinominale 02 of which Bronte is part (U03-Acireale ); he was elected; the slate in which he was nominated obtained 20,872 votes (5.01%) in the plurinominal Board, 50,864 (4.63%) in the Sicilian District 2.

Giuseppe Castiglione was charged with an indictment with six others for electoral corruption and bid rigging in the investigation of the Catania Public Prosecutor's Office on the tender for the management of the Cara (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Assistance Center) in Mineo.
For prosecutors, the auction disruption was committed during the concession of the tender for the Cara services between 2011 and 2014 when Castiglione was President of the Province of Catania.

When the investigation became public in 2015, Castiglione was Undersecretary of Agriculture of the Renzi government and exponent of the New Center-right of Angelino Alfano. He also requested and obtained immediate judgment, but the trial in September 2022 is still ongoing.
 

A photo of Giuseppe Casti­glione in 1985, a very young member of the USL 39 Committee.