Giustina Destro

In 1999 she formed a list for Padua municipal election and ran as an independent candidate for mayor, with the support of centre-right parties, notably including Forza Italia (FI).

[2] Despite her unpopularity among voters in Padua, she continued her political career through the ranks of FI and, later, The People of Freedom (PdL).

An enthusiastic supporter of fellow entrepreneur Silvio Berlusconi, during her second term as deputy, she grew critical of him.

In November 2010 she joined former minister Claudio Scajola and the Christopher Columbus Foundation,[3] whose members were known as Scajoliani and tended to be critical of Berlusconi.

[5] Following this, she abruptly left the PdL and confirmed her support to Montezemolo instead, saying that he would soon launch his political bid.