Justice Dominic Massaro Introduces Hon. Gianfranco Fini
. . . For my part, I am awed and honored. Awed by this impressive gathering of 1,000 Italian American leaders, to pay tribute to one of Italy’s commanding personalities; honored by the committee’s decision to allow me to bring my friend, our friend, Gianfranco Fini, to the podium . . .
Allow me at the onset to quite accurately observe that the last occasion when the Italian American community filled this ballroom to tonight’s capacity was for no less a personality than a President of the Republic . . .
Whenever the best interests of the United States can be better served by supporting the best interests of her trustworthy friend and ally, the Republic of Italy, then it is our consensus that these best interests be supported. And, it follows, in any rational calculus of American foreign policy-making vis-a-vis Italy, surely the name Gianfranco Fini looms large.
Fifteen years ago, in 1995, I was part of a small delegation to receive tonight’s guest. He had just been elected head of a new formation on the right of the Italian political scene, the National Alliance. We spent three days on circuit; a reception at home followed.
There was criticism, but the friendship forged then, in the first hour, and reconfirmed over the years, has never been regretted by me precisely because of the quality of the man, a man who defied expectations, steadily grew in stature, transforming himself with bold steps over the course of a career of long and splendid service to the Republic: Party Leader, Member of Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister, Delegate to the European Convention, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and, presently, President of the Chamber of Deputies, the Speaker of the popular house of the legislative branch of Italian governance.
That Gianfranco Fini is an intellectual is widely acknowledged; one need only to read his new book “The Future of Freedom” to garner this conclusion. Aimed at a new generation and seeking a post-ideological and ever widening constituency, his skill at blending intellectualism with realpolitik sees him today not only as the foremost articulator of a conservative political agenda, and the prime spokesperson for what is likewise a cherished American legal doctrine, that of “ordered liberty,” but also as an exponent of those values
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freedom, equality, economic and social justice
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central to the dignity of the human persona and fundamental to the underpinnings of a democratic state.
A man of admirable comportment and sterling rectitude, he applies a steady hand of parliamentary leadership acknowledged by all for its fairness, equanimity and independence. He does so without fear or favor, sympathy or prejudice. Heir apparent to Italy’s governing coalition, he is center stage as one of the peninsula’s top three ranking officials. It is for all these reasons that he was received in the Halls of Congress these days.
Gianfranco Fini is firmly committed to the bilateral friendship and goodwill existing between Italy and the United States. He enjoys the admiration of the Italian American leadership since the first encounter 15 years ago. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the community that embraces you, do accept this silver tray as a remembrance of this important visit, and as a token of our continuing esteem and highest regard.
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