Gilberto Pichetto Fratin currently serves as the Minister for the Environment and Energy Security in the administration led by Giorgia Meloni. Minister Pichetto, who represents Forza Italia, was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the current legislature from the Piedmont 2 Plurinominal College. Born in Veglio (Biella) in 1954, he is a certified accountant and auditor. Throughout his political and administrative career, Gilberto Pichetto has held various positions at the municipal and regional levels before becoming a prominent parliamentarian within the Forza Italia and Popolo della Libertà groups.

His journey includes serving as a town councilor in Gifflenga (Biella) from 1975 to 1980, followed by deputy mayor of Biella from 1995 to 1994. He also served as a regional councilor in Piedmont before beginning his parliamentary career as a senator in the 16th legislature (2008-2013). Later, he was appointed vice-president of the Piedmont Region, responsible for finances and the budget. In 2014 he was elected to the Regional Council and continued as Forza Italia group leader in the regional administration until 2018. Subsequently, he won the Senate election for the Biella-Vercelli uninominal constituency.

During his tenure as an undersecretary and later as deputy minister at the Ministry of Economic Development in the Mario Draghi-led administration, he played a significant role in the automotive industry, trade, and industrial policies. As Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, he aims to establish a new sustainable economic growth model aligned with the EU’s decarbonization goals and address the increasingly complex climate situation.

One of Minister Pichetto’s initial priorities is ensuring the country’s energy security following the disruptions in international markets resulting from the conflict in Ukraine. In EU environmental negotiations, he has represented Italy’s interests by defending national specificity regarding the EU directive on energy efficiency in buildings and regulations related to the automotive industry and packaging.