He is also the son of the late socialist politician Francesco De Martino and was kidnapped for 40 days in 1977 by the Camorra.

[3][7] He was only freed after a one billion lire ransom, that was raised by the party, was paid to the perpetrators.

[6][8][9] It would later be revealed that some of the funds the party had provided were attained through kidnappings done by the Red Brigades.

[8][10] This scandal has been compared to the Moro kidnapping, by those who suspected similar political beliefs between the victims to have been the cause.

[2] He continued to work with the PSI, getting elected to the Italian Senate during the XII and XIII legislatures.