Teresa Bellanova
Italy- Early Life and Activism
- Political Career
- Senator and Minister of Agriculture
- Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport
Early Life and Activism
Teresa Bellanova was born on August 17, 1958, in Ceglie Messapica, Italy. From a young age, she worked as a farm laborer in Puglia, beginning at the age of fourteen.
Her activism began within the General Confederation of Italian Labor (CGIL). She served as regional coordinator for the Women's Workers Movement in the Federation of Day Laborers (Federbraccianti) in Puglia, and as general secretary of the provincial organization of the Federation of Agro-Industrial Workers (Federazione lavoratori dell'agroindustria).
Political Career
Bellanova entered the political arena in 2005 with her election to the National Council of the Democrats of the Left party. In 2006, she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the first time, representing the Olive Tree coalition.
She served in the Chamber of Deputies for three consecutive terms, from 2006 to 2013. During her first term, she was a member of the Democratic Party-Olive Tree parliamentary group. In her subsequent terms, she belonged to the Democratic Party group.
In 2014, Bellanova joined the Renzi government as Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies. She was promoted to Deputy Minister of Economic Development in 2016. This position was maintained in the Gentiloni government that followed the resignation of the Renzi government.
Senator and Minister of Agriculture
In 2018, Bellanova ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in the Nardo constituency. However, she was elected to the Senate on the party list for the Emilia-Romagna region.
In 2019, Bellanova was appointed Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Forestry in the second Conte government. She held this position until 2021.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport
After leaving the government in 2021, Bellanova joined the Italia Viva party led by Matteo Renzi. She was appointed Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport in the Draghi government in 2021.
