Maurizio Gasparri

Maurizio Gasparri (Rome, 18 July 1956) is an Italian politician.

After a period as Member of the Italian Parliament for the Movimento Sociale Italiano, Gasparri served as an Alleanza Nazionale member. During the course of his career he has served as Minister of Communications (2001 to 2005 in the Berlusconi II Cabinet). It was during his time in this role that he pushed for the law known popularly as the "legge Gasparri". In the XVI legislature he is the president of the senators of The People of Freedom.

Alongside Ignazio La Russa, Gasparri is considered a leader of the AN mainstream faction Destra Protagonista. Gasparri worked as a journalist, becoming editor in chief of the"Secolo d'Italia" - the Movimento Sociale Italiano's daily paper.

Following a weak showing in the regional elections of 2005, Gasparri was on 25 April 2006 replaced in Berlusconi's third Cabinet by Mario Landolfi.

Gasparri is against jus soli.

Obama controversy

In the wake of Barack Obama's election in November 2008, Gasparri declared on RAI that "with Obama in the White House, perhaps al-Qaeda is happier". Gasparri was heavily criticized for the declaration by the Democratic Party.