The speaker of the Italian parliament, Pier Ferdinando Casini, paid quick a visit to the Bologna Motor Show today, stopping off at the Ferrari and Maserati stands.

Casini, who in fact was born in Bologna, has held the important post of 'Speaker of the House' for the last three years.

The focus of his visit was to check out the latest products from the Ferrari-Maserati Group, and the 49-year-old, who is also the Vice-President of the Christian Democrat Party, took in the stunning new Ferrari F430 as well as Maserati's facelifted MY05 Spyder.

Joining Casini on his guided tour of the show, was the mayor of Bologna, Sergio Cofferati, a committed supporter of this event, and the Chairman of Promotor, and creator of the show, Giuliano Cazzola.

Casini also sat in the 'Ferrari-liveried' Fiat Panda, where he was joined by Fiat marketing boss Lapo Elkann.

This unique Panda has been presented at the show by Ferrari in their own racing colours, and is displayed on their stand, situated next to the F1 title winning F2004 chassis.
 

The idea is to promote two 'Italian Winners' together, the Panda having picked up the coveted 'Car of the Year' award amongst many others.

Casini has been a parliamentary deputy since 1983 when he was elected on the Christian Democrat slate, before going on to be reconfirmed in the elections of 1987, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2001.

In January 1993, upon the dissolution of the Christian Democrats, he founded a new centre-right movement to represent the Christian Democrats: the Christian Democratic Centre, of which he became Secretary and later President.

Elected for the first time to the European Parliament in 1994, he was reconfirmed in 1999 as a member for the European People's Party. In October 2000 he was elected Vice President of the International Christian Democrat Party and the next year became President of the Chamber of Deputies.