Fanfani, Amintore, 1908-99, Italian political leader, a Christian Democrat. A noted scholar, he held several cabinet posts after World War II and was secretary of the Christian Democratic party from 1954 to 1959. He was premier in 1954, 1958-59, 1960-63 (twice), 1982-83, and 1987; in 1962 he succeeded in reorganizing his cabinet to include the Social Democrats, thus inaugurating an "opening to the left" in Italian politics. A strong supporter of the European Economic Community (Common Market), Fanfani was foreign minister in 1965 and in 1966-68. He also served (1965-66) as president of the UN General Assembly. He entered the Italian senate in 1968 and served as its president. In 1973, he resigned from that post to again become secretary of the Christian Democrats, but he returned to the senate in 1976 and was its president for six more years.

(born Feb. 6, 1908, Pieve Santo Stefano, Italy—died Nov. 20, 1999, Rome) Italian premier who formed and led the centre-left coalition that dominated Italian politics in the late 1950s and '60s. Elected to Italy's constituent assembly (1946), he became secretary-general of the Christian Democratic Party (1954) after serving briefly as premier. With his party's victory in 1958, he became premier (1958–59) and stressed social reforms. Buoyed by widespread public reaction against rising neofascist activity, he was returned to the premiership (1960–63) and again promoted a reformist program. He gained Italy's election to the UN Security Council (1958) and served as president of the UN General Assembly in 1965. He again served as premier in 1982–83 and in 1987.

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Amintore Fanfani (February 6 1908 - November 20, 1999) was an Italian career politician and former interim President of Italian Republic. He was one of the most famous Italian politicians of World War II, and a historical figure of the Christian Democracy.

Background

Fanfani was born in Pieve Santo Stefano, Tuscany to a large and humble family. He graduated in economics and business in 1930 from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. He joined the Italian fascist party. Later on, he wrote The Defense of Race, the official magazine of racism in Italy. During the years he spent in Milan, he knew Giuseppe Dossetti and Giorgio La Pira. For thirty years, they held meetings to discuss Catholicism and society.

By September 8 1943, the group disbanded, and until the Liberation, Fanfani fled to Switzerland, where he organized university courses for refugee Italians. Upon his return to Italy, he was invited to Rome with Giuseppe Dossetti, newly elected vice-secretary of the Christian Democracy.'

Political career

Fanfani was elected to the Constituent Assembly, and was a member of the Commission that drafted the text of the new Republican Constitution: "Italy is a democratic republic founded on work." He was Minister of Labor from 1947-1948 and again from 1948-1950; as well as Minister of Agriculture from 1951-1953 and Minister of the Interior in 1953. Fanfani was elected President of the UN General Assembly during 1965-1966; he is the only Italian to hold this office. He was President of the Senate from 1968 to 1973, and in March 1972 he was appointed senator for life. Fanfani became secretary of the Christian Democrats for a second time in 1973; and he led the campaign for the referendum on repealing divorce. The defeat of the divorce referendum provoked his resignation. From 1982 to 1983, Fanfani was President of the Council for a fifth time. From 1985 to 1987, he was President of the Senate again. From April to July 1987, he was prime minister for the sixth time. Fanfani was elected to the prestigious post of chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate from 1994-1996.

Fanfani died in Rome in 1999.

References

• Out for the Big Win, Time Magazine, May 26, 1958.
• Giulio Andreotti, De Gasperi e il suo tempo, Milano, Mondadori, 1956.
• Nico Perrone, Il segno della DC, Bari, Dedalo, 2002, ISBN 88-220-6253-1.
• Luciano Radi, La Dc da De Gasperi a Fanfani, Soveria Manelli, Rubbettino, 2005.