Mario Capanna

Mario Capanna (born 10 January 1945) is an Italian politician and writer.

Mario Capanna
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 1983–1992
Member of European Parliament
In office 1979–1984
Constituency	North-West Italy
Personal details
Born	(1945-01-10) 10 January 1945 Città di Castello, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Political party	DP (1978–1989) VA (1989–90) FdV (1990–92)
Alma mater	University of Milan
Profession	Politician, writer

Born in Città di Castello, he studied Philosophy at the Catholic University of Milan, and was the leader of the Italian students' movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1969 he was attacked by exponents of the neo-Fascist Italian Social Movement.

Mario Capanna as student leader (1968)

In 1975 he entered politics, adhering to the Proletarian Unity Party (PdUP), which later merged with Proletarian Democracy (DP). Capanna was charismatic leader of the latter until 27 June 1987, when he resigned, succeeded by Giovanni Russo Spena.

Capanna was elected for the DP to the Italian Chamber of Deputies (1983–1987), and to the European Parliament (1979).[1]

In 1989 he broke away from the Proletarian Democracy to form the Rainbow Greens party.

Capanna is currently President of the Committee for Genetical Rights, an independent association devoted to information on Biotechnology.

Capanna is a supporter of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an organisation which advocates for democratic reformation of the United Nations.[2]