Ignazio Benito Maria La Russa (born in Paternò, Catania, Sicily 18 July 1947) is an Italian politician (PdL). He became Minister of Defence in the fourth cabinet of Silvio Berlusconi on 8 May 2008.

On 11 May 2008 he was also elected Acting president of the National Alliance Party.

After attending college in the Swiss German Canton of St. Gallen, he obtained a degree in Law at the University of Pavia.