Editing Alessandra Mussolini

Alessandra Mussolini (born in Rome 30 December 1962) is an Italian politician, the granddaughter of fascist leader Benito Mussolini, and previously an actress and model. She has been a member of the Italian Senate since 2013 and a Member of the European Parliament since 2014. She belongs to the Forza Italia political party.

== Political Career ==

In 1992, she was elected as a member of the Chamber of Deputies. At the time, she belonged to the Movimento Sociale Italiano political party. She later was a candidate for the post of mayor of Naples, but was not elected.
Mussolini formed her Social Action party, originally named "Freedom of Action", and organised a coalition named Social Alternative. The move was read in the Italian media as surprising because of Mussolini's "progressive" stances on many issues, including abortion, artificial insemination, gay rights and civil unions. She has been an outspoken feminist and has been described by conservative commentators as a "socialist" and a "left-winger".
In the European Parliament Election, 2004 her electoral list, Social Alternative, gained 1.2% of the vote. Mussolini herself received 133,000 preference votes.
In March 2005, Mussolini was banned by a local court from regional elections held the following month for presenting fraudulent signatures. Mussolini went on a hunger strike to protest the decision.However, at the end of the month Italy's top administrative court, the Council of State, annulled the decision and she stood for election.
In November 2007, remarks by Mussolini triggered the collapse of the far-right Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty grouping within the European Parliament.
After the Italian general elections of April 2008, Mussolini served as a member of the Italian parliament within Silvio Berlusconi's alliance of right wing parties, The People of Freedom.
In the Italian general election in February 2013, she was elected to the Senate of the Republic (Italy) for the The People of Freedom. The party was transformed into a new Forza Italia in November 2013. On June 30th 2014, she resigned from her role as Senator.
In the 2014 European Parliament election, Mussolini was elected to the EP for Forza Italia.

== Professional Experience ==

Before starting her political career, she worked as an actress with the help of her aunt, Italian actress Sophia Loren. In 1982, she released a pop music album of romantic songs. She also worked as a model. In 1990 she left the film industry to continue her studies.

== Education ==

From 1976 until 1980 she attended American Overseas School of Rome. She graduated in 1986 from Sapienza University of Rome, where she obtained a degree in Medicine and Surgery.

== External Links ==

[http://www.senato.it/leg/17/BGT/Schede/Attsen/00001662.htm Personal Profile on the Italian Parliament website]

[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28429/ALESSANDRA_MUSSOLINI_home.html Personal Profile on the European Parliament Website]