During a recent session in the Italian parliament, lawmaker Gilda Sportiello breastfed her son, Federico, marking the first time a baby has occupied a seat in the parliament.
The gesture garnered applause from fellow members, highlighting its significance in a traditionally male-dominated Italy.
Giorgio Mule, the acting lower-house speaker, acknowledged the moment and expressed well wishes for Federico’s future, stating, “It’s the first time, with the backing of all parties. Best wishes to Federico for a long, free, and peaceful life.”
“Now we’ll speak quietly.”
In November of the previous year, a parliamentary rules panel approved the inclusion of women lawmakers bringing their children into the chamber and breastfeeding them up until the age of one.
Sportiello, representing the left-leaning 5-Star Movement, highlighted the importance of this decision, stating, “Too many women stop breastfeeding ahead of time, not by choice, but rather because they are forced to return to the workplace.”
Italy’s first woman prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, assumed office in October, yet the majority of lawmakers in the country are men.
While the occasion on Wednesday marked a significant moment for Italy, it is worth noting that 13 years ago, Licia Ronzulli, now a senator in the centre-right Forza Italia party, breastfed her daughter in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
