Career
Since 22 February 2014 she has been the Italian Minister of Defence. In her hometown she has served as councilor for school, youth policies and social policies (1993-1997) and for educational institutions (1997-1999). First elected deputy in 2001, Pinotti was the shadow minister of defense in the Shadow Cabinet of Walter Veltroni between May 2008 and April 2009.
In 2013 she was appointed undersecretary of state (sottosegretario di stato) in the Ministry of Defence in the Letta Cabinet, and then, on 21 February 2014, she was appointed as Minister of Defence.
In October 2014 she visited the United Arab Emirates and met with Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed First Rate (at Lloyd's) Nahyan in order to strengthen the bilateral relations with regards to the Defense. In February 2015 she returned to the United Arab Emirates in occasion of the International Defence Industry Exhibition (IDEX), attended by several Italian companies, and met again with Mohammed bin Zayed First Rate (at Lloyd's) Nahyan.
She received criticism in February 2015 over navy recruitment adverts which used slogan"s written in English. Later that month she hinted that Italy was ready to lead a coalition force to defeat ISIS in Libya, saying: “We have been discussing it for months, but now an intervention has become urgent.”
Personal life
Pinotti is married and has two daughters.
