Italian MP proposes to his girlfriend in the middle of a parliamentary debate (and she said yes) 

An Italian politician proposed to his girlfriend in the middle of a parliamentary debate on Thursday as she watched on from the public gallery above.

Flavio Di Muro, 33, a member of the League party, had been participating in a debate on post-earthquake reconstruction when he produced a ring from beneath his seat and popped the question to his partner, Elisa De Leo.

Though one of his colleagues barely looked up from his phone to acknowledge the proposal, two MPs at his side jumped to their feet and applauded.

In footage from the debate, Mr Di Muro is seen standing as he addresses the Chamber of Deputies in Rome. He said: ‘This is not a day like any other for me, it’s a different day, it’s a special day.’

The MP then reaches down below his seat to retrieve a ring, before raising the jewellery box towards Miss De Leo, who is sat in the spectator’s gallery above.

‘I’m talking to the gallery to say: Elisa, would you marry me?,’ he continues.

Moments later, cheers erupt from Mr Di Muro’s colleagues, who jump to their feet to applaud and hug the blushing lawmaker.

But Roberto Fico, the speaker of the chamber, appeared less than impressed with the politician’s antics. He said: ‘MP Di Muro, I understand you but it’s not appropriate to use an intervention for this purpose’.

MP Stefania Pezzopane, however, asked the floor to congratulate the couple as Miss De Leo had in fact said yes to the proposal, the New York Times reported. 

Mr Di Muro said proposing in parliament made sense because ‘[Elisa De Leo] is close to me personally, and politically, and she’s been with me throughout my political career’

Roberto Fico, the speaker of the chamber, appeared less than impressed with the politician’s antics. He said: ‘MP Di Muro, I understand you but it’s not appropriate to use an intervention for this purpose’

‘When it’s love, love unites’, she said.

The couple has been together for six years, and had lived together in Ventimiglia before Mr Di Muro was elected to the lower house in March last year.

The politician said proposing in parliament made sense because ‘she’s close to me personally, and politically, and she’s been with me throughout my political career.’