Nilde Iotti
Nilde Iotti | |
---|---|
President of the Chamber of Deputies | |
In office 20 June 1979 – 22 April 1992 | |
Preceded by | Pietro Ingrao |
Succeeded by | Oscar Luigi Scalfaro |
Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
In office 8 May 1948 – 18 November 1999 | |
Constituency | Parma (1948–1958) Bologna (1958–1968) Parma (1968–1994) Marche (1994–1999) |
Member of the Constituent Assembly | |
In office 25 June 1946 – 31 January 1948 | |
Constituency | Parma |
Personal details | |
Born | Reggio Emilia, Italy | 10 April 1920
Died | 4 December 1999 Rome, Italy | (aged 79)
Political party | PCI (1943–1991) PDS (1991–1998) DS (1998–1999) |
Domestic partner | Palmiro Togliatti (1946–1964) |
Alma mater | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore |
Profession | Politician Teacher |
Website | Nilde Iotti Foundation |
Leonilde Iotti, commonly known as Nilde Iotti (Italian pronunciation: [ˈnilde ˈjɔtti]; 10 April 1920 – 4 December 1999) was an Italian politician, member of the Italian Communist Party (PCI). She was the first and only woman member of the PCI to become the president of the Chamber of Deputies, an office she held for three consecutive legislatures from 1979 to 1992, becoming the longest-serving post-war president of the Chamber.
Early life
Nilde Iotti was born in
After
Political career
After the end of the war and the referendum against the Savoy Monarchy, in 1946, Iotti was elected member of the Constituent Assembly, within the Italian Communist Party (PCI). She was also one of the 75 members of the Committee entrusted with the drafting of the Italian Republican Constitution.
In the same year, Iotti started her relationship with the communist leader, Palmiro Togliatti, who was 27 years older than her, which lasted until his death in 1964. Their relationship, which was kept secret in the early years, became public knowledge in 1948, after an attempt on Togliatti's life, a few days after the general election. Their love was opposed by Italy's public opinion, including many communists, because Togliatti was already married to Rita Montagnana at the time. However, Togliatti forced his wife Rita and their son Aldo, who was mentally ill, to live in Moscow, so he could continue his relationship with Iotti. Together they asked for and obtained the adoption of an orphan girl, Marisa Malagoli, the younger sister of one of the six workers killed by Carabinieri on 9 January 1950, in Modena, during a workers' demonstration.[4]
In April 1948, Iotti was re-elected with the PCI to the Chamber of Deputies, of which she was a member without interruption until 1999. In 1956, she became a member of the Central Committee of the Party and in 1962 of the National Direction. Re-elected to the Chamber in
After the 1979 Italian general election, thanks to the support of PCI's historic rival, Christian Democracy (DC), Iotti became President of the Chamber of Deputies, with 443 votes out of 615. She succeeded another communist, Pietro Ingrao. Iotti focused her first speech in front of the house on women's role in society as well as the fight against terrorism.
Iotti was popular and respected as a president, and was confirmed in the office for two more legislatures. In 1987, she was entrusted by President Francesco Cossiga with a mandate of potentially forming a government. She became the first communist and the first woman to have ever received an exploratory mandate to become Prime Minister of Italy; however, Iotti was not able to form a coalition.[5]
In 1992, Iotti's name was put forward for the election for
Personal life
She was an atheist.[6]
Death
She died in Rome on 4 December 1999 and she is buried in the Cimitero del Verano.
Electoral history
- ^ a b Elected in a closed list proportional representation system.
References
- ^ Camera dei Deputati – Nilde Iotti
- ^ "Nilde Iotti e la tessera del Partito Nazionale Fascista". Archived from the original on 2019-01-03. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ Miriam Mafai. "Ma chi è quella signora?"
- ^ Sei morti e cinquanta feriti
- ^ "Obituary: Nilde Iotti". The Independent. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2022-06-21.
- ^ "Biography at Fondazione Nilde Iotti". Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2012-01-13.