Antonio Gava | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 13 April 1988 – 16 October 1990 | |
| Prime Minister | Ciriaco De Mita Giulio Andreotti |
| Preceded by | Amintore Fanfani |
| Succeeded by | Vincenzo Scotti |
| Minister of Economy and Finances | |
| In office 28 July 1987 – 13 April 1988 | |
| Prime Minister | Giovanni Goria |
| Preceded by | Giuseppe Guarino |
| Succeeded by | Emilio Colombo |
| Minister of Posts and Telecommunications | |
| In office 4 August 1983 – 28 July 1987 | |
| Prime Minister | Giovanni Goria |
| Preceded by | Giuseppe Guarino |
| Succeeded by | Emilio Colombo |
| President of theProvince of Naples | |
| In office 1960–1969 | |
| Preceded by | ? |
| Succeeded by | Ciro Cirillo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1930-07-30)30 July 1930 |
| Died | 8 August 2008(2008-08-08) (aged 78) |
| Political party | Christian Democracy |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Parent |
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Antonio Gava (30 July 1930 – 8 August 2008) was an Italianpolitician and member ofChristian Democracy (DC). Son of the 13-time ministerSilvio Gava, Antonio was one of the Christian Democratic Party's leading power-brokers inCampania over a 25-year period, beginning in 1968 and ending in 1993, when he was charged with membership of a criminal organisation.[1] Together withArnaldo Forlani andVincenzo Scotti, he was the leader of DC's current known as "Alleanza Popolare" (or "Grande centro doroteo").
Gava was born inCastellammare di Stabia in theProvince of Naples and graduated in law. His father wasSilvio Gava.[2] After holding some provincial and regional positions inCampania for DC, he was elected in theItalian Parliament for the first time in 1972. In 1980 he was appointed Minister of the Relationships with Parliament in the cabinet led byArnaldo Forlani. Later he was for three times Minister of Mail and Telecommunications and two times Minister of theMinister of the Interior, from 1988 to 1990.[3] He had to abandon the latter position when he was struck by astroke.
On 21 September 1994 he was arrested for conspiring in a "perverse circuit of criminal enterprise" with theCamorra, the Neapolitan crime organization. Gava was accused of trading favors for votes mustered by the Camorra.[3] Gava's alleged contacts in the Camorra were said to be primarily with first the group headed byRaffaele Cutolo and later with the group headed byCarmine Alfieri of Nola. According to thepentito (turncoat)Pasquale Galasso, both Gava and his father initially had strong ties withAlfonso Rosanova, the "spiritual father" of Cutolo.[4][5]
Together with the other Neapolitan DC's moghul of the time, Vincenzo Scotti, he was also involved in the controversial release ofCiro Cirillo, kidnapped by Italian terrorist groupRed Brigades in 1981. Publicly the Christian Democrats had refused to negotiate with terrorists, but privately leading politicians and members of the secret services visited Camorra bossRaffaele Cutolo in prison and asked him to negotiate with imprisoned members of the Red Brigades. A large ransom was paid to win Cirillo’s release.[6]
Despite numerous accusations, Antonio Gava was acquitted after 13 years of judicial fights of all charges of being associated with the Neapolitan Camorra. He announced he would sue the state for 38 million euros to compensate damages: 3 million for loss of professional earnings, 10 million for financial damage, 10 million for moral damage and 15 million for damage to his image.[7]
He died on 8 August 2008 in Rome at the age of 78 after a long illness.[8] He was nicknamed the 'Viceroy of Naples', due to his long reign in local politics, which was his power base for his national political career. Gava was known for his trade-mark large-brimmed hat, ivory-handled walking stick, gold ring and a cigar between his lips.[7]
Media related toAntonio Gava at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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