Mercedes Lourdes Frias

Mercedes Lourdes Frias is an Italian-Dominican politician. She was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 2006, serving until 2008. She was the first Black woman to be a member of the Italian parliament.

Mercedes Lourdes Frias
Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies
In office
April 21, 2006[1] – April 28, 2008[1]
Parliamentary groupCommunist Refoundation Party
ConstituencyXII District, Tuscany
Personal details
BornOctober 28, 1962
Santo Domingo
Nationality
  • Italy
  • Dominican Republic
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Activist

Life and career

Frias was born on October 28, 1962[1] in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.[2][3] She attended the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo,[4] where she obtained a degree in geography.[2] She worked as a community activist, focusing particularly on issues affecting women and immigrants from Haiti.[4]

In 1990, Frias moved to Prato.[2] There she continued her activist work, eventually becoming an organizer with Italy's Federation of Protestant Churches.[4] She became an Italian citizen in 2004.[2]

Frias was appointed assessor of the city government of Empoli in 2004.[5] In this capacity she was responsible for a portfolio that included the environment, citizenship rights, equal opportunities, and cultural diversity in Empoli.[5]

Frias ran in the 2006 Italian general election for the Chamber of Deputies, affiliated with the Communist Refoundation Party.[1] She was elected in the April 2006 election,[5] to represent the XII District, which is a part of Tuscany.[1] Her election made her the first Black woman to be a member of the Italian parliament.[6][3] She was also a member of a historically large cohort of Protestants elected to parliament that year.[7] As a deputy she served on the parliamentary committees responsible for constitutional affairs, Schengen implementation, and immigration issues.[1]

For the 2008 Italian general election Frias joined the list La Sinistra l'Arcobaleno (the rainbow left),[8] but she was not re-elected to the parliament.[1]

References
  1. "Frias, Mercedes Lourdes" (in Italian). Parliament of Italy. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  2. Farris, Erika (18 December 2013). "Immigrazione: Mercedes Frias: 'Investire di più nell'accoglienza come nella Locride". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  3. "Black Women in European Politics: from Struggle to Success". Global Voices. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  4. "Mercedes Frias". Black Past. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  5. "Mercedes Frias ha lasciato l'incarico di assessore" (in Italian). Government of Empoli. 6 June 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  6. "Mercedes Frias". Black Woman in Europe Blog. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  7. "Al Parlamento eletti quattro protestanti" (in Italian). Evangelici. 5 May 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  8. "Immigrazione: Frias (sa), su cpt destra persevera in errore" (in Italian). Stranieri in Italia. 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
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