Originally Published: 2008-01-20

Gino Bucchino is optimist and calm, but he doesn't mince words. “Up to now we have obtained almost nothing. The problem is that we have to work so hard in order for Italians living abroad to receive adequate attention and recognition from Italy's parliamentary and governmental structures,” he says.
Bucchino, deputy of the Italian Ulivo party and the Italian parliamentarian of North America with Salvatore Ferrigno (a deputy of the Italian Forza Italia party) and the senator Renato Guerino Turano, doesn’t use political jargon. He prefers talking about facts. For this reason he considers his first 18 months on the job as a type of testing period, but actually he has accomplished some goals. “Until now politics was concerned with demagogy. Italians living abroad are really a resource and it’s time that this is recognized,” says Bucchino. But this isn’t an easy job. First of all the Italian deputies have to change the commonly held belief that the parliamentarians living abroad are at an advantage.
“The Italian parliament considers us aliens. Many deputies, some who belong to our side, say that we are new and we have to pass through the ranks before asking for something. I’m totally faithful to my government and I think that my commitment is to be the spokesman of the needs of Italians living abroad.”
The deputies elected abroad have difficulties getting the attention of the Italian government, but Italians living abroad are considered a resource. “We have the same rights that parliamentarians have in Italy. We love our country and we pay taxes, sometimes double the amount of taxes.”

Corriere Canadese/Tandem recently interviewed the Honorable Gino Bucchino about his strategies and aspirations.

What goals have you achieved in your first 18 months on the job?
“First of all the ratification of the new bilateral agreement regarding social safety is almost complete. The Canadian government approved it in record time. Italy is late. But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Massimo D’Alema, committed himself to the issue by writing a letter in which he presents the ratification to Italy's parliament as soon as possible.”

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