Alessandro Pertini
Alessandro "Sandro" Pertini (Italian: [alesˈsandro (ˈsandro) perˈtiːni]; 25 September 1896 – 24 February 1990) was an Italian journalist and socialist politician. He served as the seventh President of the Italian Republic. He served as President from 1978 to 1985.[1]
Alessandro Pertini | |
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7th President of Italy | |
In office 9 July 1978 – 29 June 1985 | |
Prime Minister | Giulio Andreotti Francesco Cossiga Arnaldo Forlani Giovanni Spadolini Amintore Fanfani Bettino Craxi |
Preceded by | Giovanni Leone |
Succeeded by | Francesco Cossiga |
President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies | |
In office 5 July 1968 – 4 June 1976 | |
Preceded by | Brunetto Bucciarelli-Ducci |
Succeeded by | Pietro Ingrao |
Lifetime Senator | |
In office 29 June 1985 – 24 February 1990 | |
Constituency | Former President |
Personal details | |
Born | Stella, Italy | 25 September 1896
Died | 24 February 1990 Rome, Italy | (aged 93)
Nationality | Italian |
Political party | Socialist Party |
Spouse(s) | Carla Voltolina |
Early life
changePertini was born in Stella, Italy. He studied at the University of Genoa. Aged 19 when Italy entered World War I on the side of the Entente, Pertini opposed the war, but enlisted in the army where he served as a lieutenant and was decorated for bravery. Pertini was married to Carla Voltolina.
Presidency
changeIn 1978, the 82-year old Pertini was elected President of the Italian Republic. He played a major role in helping restore the public's faith in the government and institutions of Italy.
He maintained an active schedule of traveling and meeting foreign leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Joseph Broz Tito, and Ronald Reagan.
During the Brigate Rosse terrorism period of the Anni di piombo, Pertini openly denounced the violence. He was also against organized crime in Italy, South African apartheid, Chilean president Augusto Pinochet and other dictatorships. Pertini was as well against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1985, he stepped down from the presidency. He was soon honored with the position of senator for life.
Personal life
changePertini became President of the Foundation for Historical Studies of Florence. In December 1988, Pertini was the first person to be awarded the Otto Hahn Peace Award by the United Nations. He lived in Rome, Italy.
Death
changePertini died in Rome, Italy from natural causes, aged 93.
References
change- ↑ "A biography of Pertini". Associazione Nazionale Sandro Pertini. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
Other websites
changeMedia related to Sandro Pertini at Wikimedia Commons