I’m publishing this letter from Federica Rossi Gasparrini, National President of Donne Europee Federcasalinghe, (European Housewives) and a candidate with Italia dei Valori.

“After more than 20 years of dedication to the protection of the rights of families and of women, I have accepted, together with 19 other representatives of our Association, to take up the challenge of Antonio Di Pietro and Italia dei Valori to stand with them directly in this election campaign.

Italia dei Valori because, when compared to others, it has an inspiration that is nearest to the idea of a party for citizens and it has chosen to form alliances with those small and large associations that are based on “the rule of law, justice and the protection of the family”.
Without a doubt we have found this to be the one that most closely matches our values. As well as this we have travelled a long journey with Antonio Di Pietro and we have respect for each other. We recognise in Antonio Di Pietro, the man who knew how to break the maleficent crust of kick-backs and malpractice that was oppressing the country. We were with him at San Sepolcro, when Italia dei Valori came into being. We are with him in these national elections on 9-10 April because:

- we trust him
- Antonio Di Pietro trusts us
- he has accepted our programme and it has specific and clear elements
- he has accepted 19 of our representatives as candidates in different Italian regions from Friuli Venezia Giulia to Sicily.

I would like to remind readers that Federcasalinghe (the Housewives Association) is an Association that is truly free and autonomous in its choices.
Behind each choice there is only the wish of the members.
Before this, during the referendum campaign in the 1990’s we came out in strength to support the action of Mario Segni. Following that, Federcasalinghe has formed political alliances for the only purpose of getting laws for women and families. The alliance with the Centre-left for the elections in 1996 and with D’Alema in particular, allowed us to get 12 legal provisions. Among these were:
- Maternity cheques for new mothers who are housewives and unemployed (about a million of these have been distributed)
- cheques for the families in a weak economic situation, with 3 young children (about 2 million of these have been distributed)
- free text books for all children while in obligatory schooling.

One of the fundamental objectives that I have always kept in mind during these years is to get regulations approved that will balance the need of women to have their families and also to be able to work outside the home. As a young mother, with a demanding job in a school, I have experienced in myself the constant conflict between worrying about not being a good mother and worrying about not being a good teacher.

While feminism and the general culture told women “all get out of the house”, I had a broken heart when the children cried because I had to go out and work.
That time of my life that should have been wonderful, turned out instead to have been a very painful time.
My female colleagues had similarly difficult experiences. When I talk to women in all sectors, in industry and in commerce we’ve noticed that all of us, particularly in the early years of motherhood would have preferred to have had a different experience, more like that of a “housewife”. In Bergamo, a cultural group “freedom of choice” was set up. Then it transferred to Rome. It was the mothers of the children at school who encouraged me to set up an Association.

That’s how Federcasalinghe came into existence. It’s great to think that the founding members are still part of the Association’s National Executive Committee. This is an experience that is within me and it has true value and strives for the protection of all women.
Now it’s over to you. I’m completely with you all in these elections that may see me gaining a seat in Parliament. And as well as myself, the other housewives, women and families will gain seats in Parliament.
Together with Di Pietro, we will know how to fight for new laws that are just and modern.”

Federica Rossi Gasparrini.
National President of Donne Europee Federcasalinghe, (European Housewives), Presidente of Molise Sviluppo Spa and Undersecretary of Work during the Prodi Government.