Ministerial offices

Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 23 November 1974 – 29 July 1976
Prime Minister	Aldo Moro
Preceded by	Aldo Moro
Succeeded by	Arnaldo Forlani
Minister of the Interior
In office 17 February 1972 – 8 July 1973
Prime Minister	Giulio Andreotti
Preceded by	Franco Restivo
Succeeded by	Paolo Emilio Taviani
In office 21 June 1963 – 4 December 1963
Prime Minister	Giovanni Leone
Preceded by	Paolo Emilio Taviani
Succeeded by	Paolo Emilio Taviani
Minister of Agriculture
In office 15 February 1959 – 21 June 1963
Prime Minister	Antonio Segni Fernando Tambroni Amintore Fanfani
Preceded by	Mario Ferrari Aggradi
Succeeded by	Bernardo Mattarella
Secretary of the Council of Ministers
In office 18 January 1954 – 10 February 1954
Prime Minister	Amintore Fanfani
Preceded by	Giulio Andreotti
Succeeded by	Oscar Luigi Scalfaro

Parliamentary offices

Member of the Senate of the Republic
In office 20 June 1979 – 22 January 1990
Constituency	Vicenza
Member of the European Parliament
In office 17 July 1979 – 23 July 1984
Constituency	North-East Italy
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 8 May 1948 – 19 June 1979
Constituency	Verona
Member of the Constituent Assembly
In office 25 June 1946 – 31 January 1948
Constituency	Verona

Personal details

Born

16 June 1915
Vicenza, Veneto, Kingdom of Italy

Died

22 January 1990 (aged 74)
Vicenza, Veneto, Italy

Political party

DC (1943–1990)

Alma mater

University of Padua

Mariano Rumor (born June 16, 1915 – died January 22, 1990) was an important Italian politician. He was a member of the Christian Democracy party. Rumor served as the Prime Minister of Italy two times. His first term was from December 1968 to August 1970. His second term was from July 1973 to November 1974. During his time as Prime Minister, he led five different governments. These governments were supported by different groups of political parties working together.

Mariano Rumor also held other important jobs in the government. He was the Minister of Agriculture from 1959 to 1963. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1974 to 1976. He was also the Minister of the Interior for two shorter periods, in 1963 and from 1972 to 1973. From 1964 to 1969, Rumor was the leader (secretary) of the Christian Democracy party.

Early Life and Education
- Joining the Army and Resistance
- Becoming a Member of Parliament
Political Journey
Prime Minister of Italy
Death and Legacy
Electoral History
See also

Early Life and Education

Mariano Rumor was born in Vicenza, Italy, on June 16, 1915. His father, Giuseppe Rumor, owned a printing business. His mother, Tina Nardi, came from a family with liberal ideas.

He went to high school in Vicenza. In 1939, he earned a degree in literature from the University of Padua. After finishing university, Rumor worked as a teacher.

Joining the Army and Resistance

During World War II, Mariano Rumor joined the Italian Army as a lieutenant. In 1943, after Italy made a peace agreement with the Allied powers, Rumor joined the Italian resistance movement. This group fought against the occupation of Italy.

After the war, he helped start the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI). These were large Catholic groups for workers. He also joined the Christian Democracy party. He quickly became a main leader of the party in his home region, Veneto. He was very close to Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi.

In the 1946 election, Rumor was elected to the Constituent Assembly. This group helped write Italy's new constitution.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1948, Rumor became a member of the new Chamber of Deputies. The 1948 election was very important. It happened during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States.

De Gasperi's Christian Democracy party won the election. They defeated a group of left-wing parties. As a deputy, Rumor became close to Giuseppe Dossetti. He joined Dossetti's Christian leftist group within the party.

Political Journey

First Government Roles

In 1950, Mariano Rumor became the National Deputy Secretary of the Christian Democracy party. This was a key role in managing the party.

Later, a new group formed within the party called "Democratic Initiative." Rumor played a big part in creating this group. It included important politicians like Amintore Fanfani and Aldo Moro. This group supported Prime Minister De Gasperi.

Rumor's important role led him to his first government jobs. He became an Undersecretary for Agriculture in 1951. In 1954, he was appointed Secretary of the Council of Ministers. This meant he helped manage the government's daily work.

Mariano Rumor in 1953

Minister of Agriculture

In 1959, Rumor became the Minister of Agriculture. He held this job in several governments. In this role, he helped create a plan to improve farming in Italy. This plan was called the "Green Plan."

Rumor and Giovanni Leone visiting the site of the Vajont Dam disaster

In 1963, Rumor became the Minister of the Interior. This was a very challenging time. He had to deal with the Vajont Dam disaster. On October 9, 1963, a huge landslide caused a massive wave in a lake. This wave went over the dam and destroyed several villages. Sadly, 1,917 people died.

Leading the Christian Democracy Party

In January 1964, Rumor was chosen as the leader (secretary) of the Christian Democracy party. He held this position until January 1969. During this time, the party worked closely with the Socialist party.

Rumor was known for being careful and seeking agreement. He focused on practical issues and represented the interests of the middle class. In the 1968 elections, the Christian Democracy party slightly increased its votes. This was seen as a success for Rumor. It made him a strong candidate to become Prime Minister.

Rumor during the 1967 Christian Democracy party congress

Prime Minister of Italy

First Term as Prime Minister

On December 13, 1968, Mariano Rumor became Prime Minister for the first time. His government included Christian Democrats, Socialists, and Republicans.

During his first time as Prime Minister, some important changes were made.

A law in 1969 made it easier for all students with a high school diploma to go to university. Before, it was more limited.
A law in 1969 improved pensions for retired workers. It also created a "social pension" for older people with low incomes who didn't have other pensions.
A law in 1970 helped workers in the construction industry get benefits if they couldn't work.

Rumor speaking to the Chamber of Deputies in 1970

In foreign policy, Rumor signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1969. This treaty aims to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.

His first time as Prime Minister was also marked by a terrible event. On December 12, 1969, a bomb exploded at a bank in Milan. This was known as the Piazza Fontana massacre. It killed 17 people and injured many more. This attack was carried out by a neo-fascist group. Their goal was to create fear and make people think left-wing groups were responsible.

Rumor led three different governments during his first term. These governments changed as different parties joined or left the coalition.

Minister of the Interior and an Attack

In 1972, Rumor was again appointed Minister of the Interior.

In 1973, there was an attempt to harm Rumor. A man named Gianfranco Bertoli set off a bomb. Four people were killed and 45 were injured. Rumor survived the attack. Bertoli was later sentenced to life in prison.

An image of the 1973 Milan massacre, where Rumor was the main target

Second Term as Prime Minister

After some time, Rumor became Prime Minister again in July 1973. He led a government with Christian Democrats, Socialists, Republicans, and Democratic Socialists.

During his second term, more laws were passed to help people.

A law in March 1974 increased the minimum amount for pensions.
A law in July 1974 extended family allowances to pensioners.
A law in August 1974 made sure that everyone not covered by other plans could get hospital help.

Rumor's last government ended in October 1974. They could not agree on how to deal with rising prices (inflation).

After Being Prime Minister

Rumor in 1978

In November 1974, Rumor became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This was in Aldo Moro's government.

As Foreign Minister, he signed the Osimo Treaty with Yugoslavia. This treaty officially divided the area known as the Free Territory of Trieste. The city of Trieste went to Italy. A part of the Istrian peninsula went to Yugoslavia. Some people in Italy criticized this treaty.

In 1979, Mariano Rumor was elected to the European Parliament. This is a group of elected officials from countries in Europe. He became the head of the Political Affairs Committee in 1980. He stayed in this role until he left the European Parliament in 1984.

Death and Legacy

Rumor with the president of the Chamber Nilde Iotti in 1989

Mariano Rumor passed away from a heart attack in Vicenza on January 22, 1990. He was 74 years old.

After his death, people discussed his time in politics. Some talked about the "baby pensioners" program. This program, started in 1973, allowed some government workers to retire earlier. It was ended in 1992.

Electoral History

Election	House	Constituency		Votes	Result
1946	Constituent Assembly	Verona	DC	29,213	Y Elected
1948	Chamber of Deputies	Verona	DC	43,002	Y Elected
1953	Chamber of Deputies	Verona	DC	49,576	Y Elected
1958	Chamber of Deputies	Verona	DC	61,492	Y Elected
1963	Chamber of Deputies	Verona	DC	93,735	Y Elected
1968	Chamber of Deputies	Verona	DC	168,828	Y Elected
1972	Chamber of Deputies	Verona	DC	266,710	Y Elected
1976	Chamber of Deputies	Verona	DC	73,729	Y Elected
1979	Senate of the Republic	Vicenza	DC	88,028	Y Elected
1979	European Parliament	North-East Italy	DC	235,478	Y Elected
1983	Senate of the Republic	Vicenza	DC	73,372	Y Elected
1987	Senate of the Republic	Vicenza	DC	81,348	Y Elected

Mariano Rumor facts for kids

Contents