Matteo Hallissey

Matteo Hallissey (born 5 April 2003) is an Italian politician who is the president of More Europe since 9 February 2025 and president of the Italian Radicals since 8 December 2024. Previously, he was secretary of the Italian Radicals from 28 January to 8 December 2024. In doing so, he became the youngest secretary of an Italian political party. Hallissey is well known for his activism related to liberal reforms of the taxi and beach resort sectors, which attracted international attention.

Early life Hallissey was born on 5 April 2003 in Bologna, the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region. His mother is from Rome while his father is English. Hallissey grew up in Monterenzio.

Political career As a youth, Hallissey was associated with Liberi Oltre le Illusioni and EconomiaItalia. His political activism began in 2021 during the collection of signatures for the referendum on euthanasia promoted by the Luca Coscioni Association and some political parties, including the Italian Radicals and More Europe, both of which he joined. becoming the youngest secretary of a political party in Italy. Between summer and autumn 2024, Hallissey became known on social networks for his protest initiatives for the economic liberalisation of taxi concessions and beach resorts. For this reason, he was often insulted or assaulted during his demonstrations. His support for Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian war also earned him attacks from pro-Vladimir Putin and pro-Russia individuals and organisations, including the Russian embassy in Italy.

In the 2024 Emilia-Romagna regional election, Hallissey ran within the list Reformists for a Future Emilia-Romagna in support of Michele De Pascale as president of Emilia-Romagna, In April 2026, as president of More Europe, he presented a motion that called for a new party congress.

Political positions and activism During his career, Hallissey focused much of his political activity on initiatives related to the liberalisation of services and greater market competition. such as the "free taxi" service, Another area at the centre of his campaigns was the beach concessions. Through raids and demonstrations on the beaches, he denounced the absence of public tenders and the concentration of the beaches in the hands of a few operators, asking for the application of the Bolkestein directive.

Hallissey's initiatives attracted media attention and provoked mixed reactions. While criticised by trade representatives, supporters and observers more positively considered his actions as an attempt to pursue battles for transparency and competition in the sectors concerned. In addition to these issues, Hallissey advocated pro-European positions, promoting a strengthening of community institutions and greater political and economic integration. He called for the expansion of civil rights, with particular attention to battles for equality and against discrimination. He also supported anti-prohibitionist initiatives, in particular for the legalisation of cannabis, believing that the regulatory framework had produced effects contrary to the declared objectives.