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The only openly gay minister to serve in an Italian government Ivan Scalfarotto talks about his successful campaign for same-sex civil partnerships in Italy.

Scalfarotto, vice-president of Italy’s Democratic Party and Secretary of State for International Trade and Investment, went on hunger strike for three weeks in 2015 at the failure of the government to find legislative time for reform. He was a junior minister in the government at the time. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi publicly urged him to abandon the hunger strike and promised a legislative programme. The law was eventually passed in June 2016.

Scalfarotto has been vice-president of Italy’s Democratic Party since 2009 and was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 2013. He has also served as Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Under Secretary of State for Economic Development. 

Here he talks to world news editor of the Financial Times Ben Hall.

This event is part of Italian day at the festival.