Giovanni Spadolini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Senator for Life
Giovanni Spadolini
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| President of the Italian Senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 2 July 1987 – 14 April 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Giovanni Malagodi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Carlo Scognamiglio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister of Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 28 June 1981 – 1 December 1982 |
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| President | Sandro Pertini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Arnaldo Forlani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Amintore Fanfani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting President of Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 28 April 1992 – 28 May 1992 |
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| Prime Minister | Giulio Andreotti | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Francesco Cossiga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Oscar Luigi Scalfaro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 21 June 1925 Florence, Kingdom of Italy |
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| Died | 4 August 1994 (aged 69) Rome, Italy |
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| Political party | Italian Republican Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Florence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profession | Teacher, journalist, historian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Giovanni Spadolini (born June 21, 1925 – died August 4, 1994) was an important Italian politician. He served as the 44th Prime Minister of Italy. He was a key leader in the Italian Republican Party. He was also the first head of government in Italy since 1945 who was not from the Christian Democrats party.
Besides being a politician, Spadolini was also a newspaper editor, a journalist, and a historian. Many people respected him for his writings and his deep knowledge of culture. He was a professor of Contemporary History at the University of Florence. He wrote many books about history. He also worked as the editor-in-chief for newspapers like Il Resto del Carlino and Il Corriere della Sera.
Spadolini became the first Minister of Cultural Heritage and Environment in Italy from 1974 to 1976. He became Prime Minister in 1981 and led two governments. These governments were supported by several parties working together. Later, he was the Minister of Defence from 1983 to 1987. After that, he was elected President of the Senate. In 1991, President Francesco Cossiga made Spadolini a Lifetime Senator.
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Early Life and Career
Giovanni Spadolini was born in Florence, Italy, in 1925. When he was young, he worked in a public library. He studied law at the University of Florence. After he graduated, he became a professor of Contemporary History. He taught in the Faculty of Political Science.
Spadolini also started writing for several newspapers. He became the editor-in-chief of Il Resto del Carlino in 1955. He made the newspaper twice as popular during his time there. In 1968, he moved to Milan and became the editor of Corriere della Sera, which was Italy's biggest newspaper. He held this job until 1972.
In 1972, Spadolini was elected as a senator. He then served as the Minister of the Environment and later as the Minister of Education. In 1979, he became the secretary of the Italian Republican Party (PRI). As a journalist, he sometimes used the pen name Giovanni dalle Bande Nere.
Prime Minister of Italy
Giovanni Spadolini was the Prime Minister of Italy from 1981 to 1982. He was the first Prime Minister since 1945 who was not a member of the Christian Democrats party. When he became Prime Minister, he promised to fight against corruption and growing violence.
In terms of foreign policy, he believed in not getting involved in other countries' problems too much. However, he was also friendly towards the United States. He changed Italy's policy which had been very supportive of Arab nations. For example, he refused to meet Yasser Arafat during a visit to Italy. This was to protest against a terrible act of violence.
In 1982, there was a political disagreement between two ministers. Because of this, Spadolini resigned. He then formed a new government that was almost the same as the old one. But this new government only lasted a few months. It ended when Bettino Craxi's Socialist Party stopped supporting it.
Later Political Life
Under Spadolini's leadership, the Italian Republican Party got 5% of all votes for the first time in the 1983 Italian general election. From 1987 to April 1994, he was the president of the Italian Senate.
He also served as the Acting President of Italy for about a month in 1992. This happened after President Francesco Cossiga resigned. Later, after Silvio Berlusconi's party, Forza Italia, won many votes, Spadolini lost his position as chairman of the Senate by just one vote.
Personal Life and Death
Giovanni Spadolini never married. In July 1994, he had an operation on his stomach. He passed away in Rome in August 1994 due to breathing problems.
Electoral History
| Election | House | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result | |
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| 1972 | Senate of the Republic | Milan I | PRI | 7,231 |  Elected |
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| 1976 | Senate of the Republic | Milan I | PRI | 6,862 | Elected |
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| 1979 | Senate of the Republic | Milan IV | PRI | 10,134 | Elected |
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| 1983 | Senate of the Republic | Milan I | PRI | 13,405 | Elected |
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| 1987 | Senate of the Republic | Milan I | PRI | 7,745 | Elected |
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See also
In Spanish: Giovanni Spadolini para niños
