Luigi Brugnaro

Luigi Brugnaro
Mayor of Venice
In office
15 June 2015 – 29 May 2026
Preceded byGiorgio Orsoni
Succeeded bySimone Venturini
President of Coraggio Italia
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 July 2021
Preceded byOffice established
Personal details
Born (1961-09-13) 13 September 1961
Mirano, Italy
PartyCoraggio Italia
Alma materIuav University
ProfessionEntrepreneur

Luigi Brugnaro (born 13 September 1961) is an Italian politician and entrepreneur who was the mayor of Venice from 2015 to 2026. Since July 2021, he is also president of Coraggio Italia (CI), a political party affiliated with the centre-right coalition.

Biography

Entrepreneurial career

Brugnaro graduated in architecture at IUAV.[1] He has been owner of the Reyer Venezia Mestre basketball team,[2] a past chairman of Confindustria Venice,[3] and also a former president of Assolavoro.[4]

Mayor of Venice

Brugnaro ran for the office as an independent politician,[5][6] assuming office on 15 June 2015.

Brugnaro has attracted controversy via his banning of 49 books about discrimination and homosexuality from the city's schools, including a French book on gay parenting entitled Jean Has Two Mums, and in declaring that there will be no gay pride parade in Venice.[7] Germane to these actions and statements he has engaged in a series of verbal back and forths with the entertainer and activist Elton John, who maintains a home in the city.[8][9][10]

On 24 August 2017, Mayor Brugnaro ordered Italian police to shoot anyone shouting "Allāhu akbar" on sight. In his statement, he said: "We need to increase our security when it comes to terrorism. We had four would be terrorists arrested in Venice a few months ago who wanted to blow up the Rialto bridge. They said they wanted to go and meet Allah so we will send them straight to Allah without having to throw them off the bridge, we will just shoot them."[11][12][13]

In 2018, Brugnaro successfully spearheaded a drive to charge a fee to be applied to day visitors to Venice. The fee approved by the Italian Parliament will vary depending upon the time of year of one's visit.[14] Brugnaro had said of the measure, "The tax will ...allow us to manage the city better and to keep it clean... and allow Venetians to live with more decorum".[15]

After a large luxury passenger liner crashed into a cruise ship terminal in Venice during the first week of June 2019, Brugnaro said, "Once again it is shown that big ships cannot cross the Giudecca Canal."[16]

During the repeated flooding of the ancient city in 2019, Brugnaro said "Venice is on its knees" in describing the catastrophe and labeled the cause as global warming in stating that "These are the effects of climate changes."[17] Brugnaro is the owner of a Ferretti 1,000 luxury yacht.[18]

On 27 May 2021, he founded along with Giovanni Toti, Coraggio Italia, a new party joined by former members of Forza Italia, Cambiamo!, the League, and Democratic Centre.

Regarding Russia's presence in the 2026 Venice Biennale, Luigi Brugnaro has chosen to respect the independence of both the Biennale's organizers and its jury.[19][20] Nevertheless, he also declared that the Russian pavilion will be closed immediately if it features any political propaganda.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Luigi Brugnaro, Mayor". themayor.eu.
  2. ↑ "Reyer Venezia: i doppi playoff di Brugnaro, candidato sindaco - Panorama". panorama.it. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "The center-right conquers once 'leftist' and iconic Venice thanks to an entrepreneur turned mayor". italy24.ilsole24ore.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "La nomina - Luigi Brugnaro, nuovo presidente di Assolavoro: "Colmare il ritardo italiano sulla somministrazione e diffondere la cultura della buona flessibilità"". job24.ilsole24ore.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Luigi Brugnaro, the new mayor of Venice, wants to crack down on tourists | CityMetric". citymetric.com. 23 July 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  6. ↑ Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (15 June 2015). "Venice mayoral election result may open way for bigger cruise ships". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Miller, Michael E. (27 August 2015). "No gay pride parade in Venice, says Italian mayor amid feud with Elton John". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "Sir Elton John slams the mayor of Venice for banning gay books | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. 16 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Elton John Venice row: Mayor defends same-sex book decision". BBC News. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Sarkar, Monica (20 August 2015). "Elton John slams mayor for gay books ban". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Jack Moore. "Don't Shout Allahu Akbar in Venice or You'll Get Shot, Says Mayor" Archived 17 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Newsweek. 24 August 2017
  12. ↑ Venice mayor: Anyone shouting 'Allahu akbar' in St Mark's Square will be shot Archived 5 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Independent, Jon Sharman, 24 August 2017
  13. ↑ Venice mayor: Anyone who shouts 'Allahu Akbar' will be shot, Fox News, 24 August 2017
  14. ↑ Giuffrida, Angela (31 December 2018). "Venice to charge day-trippers up to €10 to enter city". Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
  15. ↑ Carey, Meredith (2 January 2019). "Venice to Start Charging Day-Trippers in May". www.cntraveler.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Venice cruise ship crash sparks panic, protests". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  17. ↑ "'Venice is on Its Knees': Mayor Blames Worst Flood Tide in 50 Years on Climate Change". Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  18. ↑ "Brugnaro, il "Berlusconi di Venezia" si regala uno yacht e un partito. E salpa alla conquista del centrodestra". la Repubblica (in Italian). 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Giuffrida, Angela (24 April 2026). "Venice Biennale jury 'will not award artists from countries facing war crimes charges'". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  20. ↑ Redazione, La (23 April 2026). "Biennale Arte 2026, la giuria ignorerà i padiglioni di Russia e Israele". VeneziaToday (in Italian). Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  21. ↑ Kishkovsky, Sophia (6 March 2026). "Pussy Riot slams Russia's return to Venice Biennale". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
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