Angelo Onorato, shop owner turned politician, killed in Palermo

Last Updated: May 25, 2024

Proprietario del negozio «Casa», aveva seguito la moglie in politica: chi era Angelo Onorato, ucciso a Palermo

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After following his wife, Francesca Donato, in the election campaign five years ago for the European Parliament (she was elected as an independent in the League and then moved to Totò Cuffaro’s Christian Democracy), the entrepreneur Angelo Onorato, 54 years old, was found dead today in Palermo. Two years ago, he himself tried his hand at politics, running for the Regional elections in Sicily with the Christian Democracy, receiving 846 votes and ranking eleventh out of sixteen on the list.

Failing to enter the Sicilian Regional Assembly, Onorato had returned to his business activities in the construction sector and had recently renovated the Casa shop on Viale Strasbourg, of which he is the owner. He leaves behind his wife, outgoing MEP, and two children, Salvatore, 25 years old, and Carolina, 21 years old.

Francesca Donato’s political commitment began in 2001 when she founded Progetto Eurexit, an association of entrepreneurs and professionals critical of the European Union and the single currency. In 2019, she ran for the second time (after a failed first attempt) in the insular constituency for the European Parliament elections, on the Salvini Premier League list, where she was elected with 28,460 preferences.

Then came the divorce from the party, the candidacy to become mayor of Palermo (without succeeding in entering the City Council), and then the entry into Totò Cuffaro’s Christian Democracy. Francesca Donato did not run for the European Parliament elections (which will be held on 8 and 9 June). She is the national vice president of the Christian Democracy. On the ballot, she often presented herself as “Francesca Donato also known as Francesca Onorato,” the surname of her late husband.

The friends of the entrepreneur are in shock. There are many messages of pain on Onorato’s Facebook page. “I am speechless. Until last night, we met at the tennis club party,” writes Milvia. Many friends who were with the entrepreneur until late last night at the tennis club party on Viale del Fante, “Let’s dance-summer edition.” Massimo writes: “You were an extraordinary person, always kind and helpful to everyone.” “A senseless death. I hope these bastards pay dearly for it,” adds Frank. “It’s not fair. They have taken you away from the love of your family,” laments Anna.