2008 in Italy

none 2008 Events during the year 2008 in Italy. Italy was hit hard by the Great Recession. Incumbents President: Giorgio Napolitano Prime Minister: Romano Prodi (until 8 May) Silvio Berlusconi (from 8 May) Events January 8 January : due to the worsening of the waste crisis in Campania and the riots that broke out as a result, the government appoints Gianni De Gennaro as liquidator and decides to send the Army to the region. 16 January: Minister of Justice Clemente Mastella resigns after his wife was put under house arrest for corruption charges. His party, Union of Democrats for Europe, later decides not to support government. 24 January: Start of the 2008 Italian political crisis - Prime Minister Romano Prodi lost vote of confidence (→ Second Prodi government). 26 January : the president of the Sicilian Region, Salvatore Cuffaro, resigns amidst the controversy after being sentenced in the first instance to 5 years for personal aiding and abetting against defendants in Mafia trials. February 6 February : the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano decrees the dissolution of the chambers and the end of the 15th legislature, after the failure of the exploratory assignment entrusted to the President of the Senate Franco Marini. General elections are set for 13 and 14 April. 7 February: There are mass arrests in the United States and Italy in an anti-Mafia sweep including three suspected senior members of the Gambino crime family. (Reuters) 21 February: Italy recognised Kosovo. 28 February: Saadi v Italy, a case of deportation to Tunisia, is decided by European Court of Human Rights. March 25 February – 1 March: Sanremo Music Festival 2008: The Big Artists section won by the duo Giò Di Tonno and Lola Ponce with the song "Colpo di fulmine"; newcomers' section won by Sonohra with "L'amore". 3 March: Padre Pio's body was exhumed from his crypt. 10 March: First season of Italian X Factor starts. 13 - 24 March: European Aquatics Championships in Eindhoven - 5 Gold, 7 Silver and 9 Bronze medals for Italy. Federica Pellegrini sets a World Record in 400 m freestyle and Alessia Filippi a National Record in 800 m freestyle. 15 March: a hundred thousand parade in Bari against the mafia in a demonstration organized by Libera 16 March: Alitalia airline is purchased by a consortium of Air France and KLM for €138 million. (BBC News) 23 March: Magdi Allam, the most prominent Muslim in Italy, converts to Catholicism and is baptized by Pope Benedict XVI. 31 March: Milan will host Expo 2015. Artist Pippa Bacca killed in Turkey. April 13 - 14 April: 2008 Italian general election, won by Berlusconi's new party, The People of Freedom. 29 April: Start of Legislature XVI (ends in 2013). May 8 May: Silvio Berlusconi takes over as prime minister, succeeding Romano Prodi. Fourth Berlusconi government ends in 2011. 9 May: Shadow Cabinet of Italy, led by Walter Veltroni is officially presented (dissolved in 2009). 18 May: 2007–08 Serie A ended: Inter Milan defended the championship. 25 May: Gomorrah by Matteo Garrone won Grand Prix at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. (→ List of Italian films of 2008) 30 May: Fishermen in Spain, Portugal and Italy strike to protest against high fuel prices. June 2 June: the famous TV series for children by nickelodeon iCarly is broadcast for the first time dubbed in Italian. 7 - 29 June: UEFA Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland: Italy eliminated in the quarter-finals on penalties to eventual champions Spain (→ The decline of the world champions (2006–2010)) 27 June: Trials and allegations involving Silvio Berlusconi: his Cabinet launched a bill giving him immunity from prosecution while he remains in officeItalian PM pushes legislation that gives him immunity from trial. taipeitimes.com Sun, Jun 29, 2008 page6 (→ Lodo Alfano, declared unconstitutional in October 2009) August 8 - 24 August: Italy at the 2008 Summer Olympics, in Beijing: 344 athletes in 22 sports; 8 gold, 9 silver, 10 bronze medals. 29 August: Alitalia files for bankruptcy protection. 30 August: The Treaty of Benghazi: Italy apologized and compensated (5 billion dollars plus the medical care for those who were harmed from the remnants of colonialism) for its previous colonization; Libya agreed to fight against illegal migration. September 14 September: Sebastian Vettel wins the Italian Grand Prix, marking him the youngest Formula One winner until Max Verstappen beats Vettel's record at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. 18 September: Castel Volturno massacre: seven were killed, mostly African migrants. 30 September: 30 suspected mobsters arrested around Naples in "war against the Camorra". (BBC News) October 17 October: Novembre by Giusy Ferreri was released digitally, it debuted at the number one spot on the Italian charts, where it remains until 16 January. (→ List of number-one hits of 2008 (Italy)) 29 October: Murder of Meredith Kercher (2007): Guede sentenced to 30 years. Knox and Sollecito charged with murder, sexual assault. 30 October : Sardinia becomes the first region in Europe to receive only the digital terrestrial signal, thus carrying out the first switch-off of the analog signal in Italy. November 10 November: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi repeats a comment that United States President-elect Barack Obama is "young, handsome and also tanned," refusing to apologize for remarks he insisted are "flattering" (→ Controversies surrounding Silvio Berlusconi). 13 November: Aftermath of 27th G8 summit in Genoa 2001: court cleared 16 of the most senior police officers, 13 police officers were convicted. 13 November: Supreme Court of Cassation awarded father of Eluana Englaro the right to stop his daughter from being fed (feeding was discontinued next February). December 28 December: Four boats carrying approximately 1,700 illegal Libyan migrants arrive on the Italian island of Lampedusa. (BBC) 31 December: Italy's mandate as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council expires. Deaths thumb|right|100 px | Duilio Loi thumb|right|100 px | Dina Sassoli thumb|right|100 px | Marisa Sannia thumb|right|100 px | Marisa Merlini January 5 January – Giovanni Rinaldo Coronas, politician, police chief and Interior Minister (b. 1919).http://www.unita.it/view.asp?idContent%3D71856 Morto Rinaldo Coronas, ex capo della polizia e ministro dell'Interno 5 January 2008 L'Unità it 10 November 2019 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080316212413/http://www.unita.it/view.asp?idContent=71856 16 March 2008 6 January – Vittorio Tomassetti, Bishop of Fano-Fossombrone-Cagli-Pergola (b. 1930).http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/btomv.html Vittorio Tomassetti David M. Cheney Catholic Hierarchy 10 November 2019 17 January – Giuliana Penzi, dancer and choreographer (b. 1918).http://www.balletto.net/giornale.php?articolo=1996 E' morta Giuliana Penzi 18 January 2008 Balletto.net it 10 November 2019 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20110723022840/http://www.balletto.net/giornale.php?articolo=1996 23 July 2011 18 January – Pier Miranda Ferraro, operatic tenor (b. 1924).http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/01/18/1238070-italian-tenor-pier-miranda-ferraro-dies Italian Tenor Pier Miranda Ferraro Dies Associated Press 18 January 2008 Newsvine.com 10 November 2019 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080316063211/http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/01/18/1238070-italian-tenor-pier-miranda-ferraro-dies 16 March 2008 Ugo Pirro, screenwriter and novelist (b. 1920).https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7196418.stm Italian scriptwriter Pirro dies 18 January 2008 BBC News 10 November 2019 20 January – Duilio Loi, boxer (b. 1929).http://www.gazzetta.it/Sport_Vari/Altri_Sport/Boxe/Primo_Piano/2008/01_Gennaio/20/Loi.shtml E' morto Duilio Loi La Gazzetta dello Sport it 10 November 2019 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080223081140/http://www.gazzetta.it/Sport_Vari/Altri_Sport/Boxe/Primo_Piano/2008/01_Gennaio/20/Loi.shtml 23 February 2008 February 3 February – Ernesto Illy, food chemist and businessman (b. 1925) 11 February – Carolina Tronconi, gymnast, Olympic silver medalist (b. 1913).https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/tr/carolina-tronconi-1.html https://web.archive.org/web/20200418013535/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/tr/carolina-tronconi-1.html dead 18 April 2020 Carolina Tronconi Sports Reference 10 November 2019 13 February – Michele Greco, Mafia boss (b. 1924).http://www.unita.it/view.asp?IDcontent=72893 Morto Michele Greco, il "Papa" della mafia, era all'ergastolo 13 February 2008 L'Unità it 10 November 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20080215062524/http://www.unita.it/view.asp?IDcontent=72893 15 February 2008 dead 16 February – Vittorio Lucarelli, fencer (b. 1928).https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/lu/vittorio-lucarelli-1.html https://web.archive.org/web/20200418013840/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/lu/vittorio-lucarelli-1.html dead 18 April 2020 Vittorio Lucarelli Sports Reference 10 November 2019 Fabio Presca, basketball player (b. 1930).https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pr/fabio-presca-1.html https://web.archive.org/web/20200418013030/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pr/fabio-presca-1.html dead 18 April 2020 Fabio Presca Sports Reference 10 November 2019 17 February – Nicola Agnozzi, Roman Catholic prelate (b. 1911).http://www2.ofmconv.pcn.net/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42:the-funeral-of-bishop-nicola-agnozzi-pioneer-among-the-conventuals-in-zambia-and-australia&catid=1:news-2008&Itemid=87 The Funeral of Bishop Nicola Agnozzi, Pioneer Among the Conventuals in Zambia and Australia 19 February 2008 Friars Minor Conventual 10 November 2019 24 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110724003508/http://www2.ofmconv.pcn.net/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42:the-funeral-of-bishop-nicola-agnozzi-pioneer-among-the-conventuals-in-zambia-and-australia&catid=1:news-2008&Itemid=87 dead 22 February – Nunzio Gallo, singer (b. 1928).http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10647 Italy: Nunzio Gallo died at the age of 80 Stella Floras 24 February 2008 ESC Today.com 10 November 2019 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080302220940/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/10647 2 March 2008 March 3 March – Giuseppe Di Stefano, operatic tenor (b. 1921).http://africa.reuters.com:80/wire/news/usnL03836685.html Italian tenor Di Stefano dies aged 86 3 March 2008 Reuters 10 November 2019 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080309205819/http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL03836685.html 9 March 2008 4 March – Tina Lagostena Bassi, lawyer and politician (b. 1926).https://genderopportunity.blogspot.com/2008/03/tina-lagostena-bassi-lawyer-of-women.html Tina Lagostena Bassi: The lawyer of women Silvia Palandri 5 March 2008 Gender Opportunity/Opportunità di Genere 10 November 2019 7 March – Leonardo Costagliola, footballer (b. 1921).http://www.transfermarketweb.com/?action=read&idsel=12581 Fiorentina: Is dead Leonardo Costagliola 7 March 2008 Transfermarketweb.com 10 November 2019 30 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120730102105/http://www.transfermarketweb.com/?action=read&idsel=12581 dead 12 March – Lazare Ponticelli, Italian-born French veteran of World War I (b. 1897).http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hK6pGBapD_EGhQVq_HMNkMGIbsjA Last French World War I veteran dies at 110 12 March 2008 Agence France-Presse 10 November 2019 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110520125346/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hK6pGBapD_EGhQVq_HMNkMGIbsjA 20 May 2011 14 March – Chiara Lubich, Catholic activist (b. 1920).http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0801447.htm Chiara Lubich, founder of Focolare movement, dies at 88 Cindy Wooden 14 March 2008 Catholic News Service 10 November 2019 dead http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080408201305/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0801447.htm 8 April 2008 18 March – Oreste Rizzini, voice actor (b. 1940).https://www.film.it/news/film/dettaglio/art/e-morto-il-doppiatore-oreste-rizzini-23759/ E' Morto Il Doppiatore Oreste Rizzini 19 March 2008 Film.it it 10 November 2019 24 March – Dina Sassoli, actress (b. 1920).http://cinema-tv.corriere.it/cinema/08_marzo_24/morta_dina_sassoli_2f7e986c-f9b1-11dc-88d1-0003ba99c667.shtml Morta l'attrice Dina Sassoli 24 March 2008 Corriere della Sera it 10 November 2019 April 14 April – Marisa Sannia, singer (b. 1942).http://www.repubblica.it/2008/04/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/marisa-sannia/marisa-sannia/marisa-sannia.html Addio alla cantante Marisa Sannia da 'Casa bianca' a Garcia Lorca Rita Celi 15 April 2008 la Repubblica it 10 November 2019 July 23 July – Anna Maria Cantù, sprinter (b. 1923).https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/anna-maria-cantu-1.html https://web.archive.org/web/20200418014532/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/anna-maria-cantu-1.html dead 18 April 2020 Anna Maria Cantù Sports Reference 10 November 2019 27 July – Marisa Merlini, actress (b. 1923).https://www.repubblica.it/2008/07/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/marisa-merlini/marisa-merlini/marisa-merlini.html E' morta Marisa Merlini Una vita per lo spettacolo Claudia Morgoglione 28 July 2008 la Repubblica it 10 November 2019 August 4 August - Anita Farra, actress (b. 1905).Anita Farra 14 August – Luigi Grossi, Olympic sprinter (b. 1925).https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/luigi-grossi-1.html https://web.archive.org/web/20200418013023/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/luigi-grossi-1.html dead 18 April 2020 Luigi Grossi Sports Reference 10 November 2019 September 5 September – Mila Schön, fashion designer (b. 1916).https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2700477/Mila-Schon.html Mila Schön 7 September 2008 The Daily Telegraph 10 November 2019 October 5 October – Leopoldo Elia, politician (b. 1925).https://www.corriere.it/cronache/08_ottobre_06/leopoldo_elia_02814504-9375-11dd-8968-00144f02aabc.shtml Consulta, è morto Leopoldo Elia 6 October 2008 Corriere della Sera it 10 November 2019 December 20 December – Samuele Bacchiocchi, theologian (b. 1938).http://archives.adventistreview.org/article/2300/archives/issue-2008-1535/35cn-samuele-bacchiocchi-70-noted-sabbath-scholar-succumbs Noted Sabbath Scholar Samuele Bacchiocchi Dies Mark A. Kellner 2008 Adventist Review 10 November 2019 22 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180922173757/http://archives.adventistreview.org/article/2300/archives/issue-2008-1535/35cn-samuele-bacchiocchi-70-noted-sabbath-scholar-succumbs dead 28 December – Claudio Vitalone, politician (b. 1936)E' morto a Roma il magistrato Claudio Vitalone https://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/morto-vitalone2912.html 5 December 2013 Affaritaliani 29 December 2008 References 2008 Category:2000s in Italy Category:Years of the 21st century in Italy Italy Italy