Benigno Zaccagnini (; 17 April 1912 – 5 November 1989) was an Italian politician and physician.
Biography
Born in
Faenza
Faenza (, , ; rgn, Fènza or ; la, Faventia) is an Italian city and comune of 59,063 inhabitants in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated southeast of Bologna.
Faenza is home to a historical manufacture of majolica-ware glazed eart ...
, he graduated in
Pediatrics
Pediatrics ( also spelled ''paediatrics'' or ''pædiatrics'') is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until th ...
in 1937. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
he acted as
partisan, collaborating with Arrigo Boldrini in the liberation of
Romagna
Romagna ( rgn, Rumâgna) is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna, North Italy. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to t ...
.
Zaccagnini was among the founders of the
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy (sometimes named Centrist democracy) is a political ideology that emerged in 19th-century Europe under the influence of Catholic social teaching and neo-Calvinism.
It was conceived as a combination of modern democratic ...
(DC), and was elected at the
Constituent Assembly
A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...
(1946) and the
Chamber of Deputies
The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures.
Description
Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourbon R ...
(1948) of the new-born
Italian Republic
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. He was a member of the Christian Democratic wing more favourable to a collaboration with left (or centre-left) parties. He was confirmed at the Chambers of Deputies until 1979, when he was elected to the
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic ( it, Senato della Repubblica), or simply the Senate ( it, Senato), is the upper house of the bicameral Italian Parliament (the other being the Chamber of Deputies). The two houses together form a perfect bicameral sy ...
.
In 1959 Zaccagnini was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Security in the
Segni II Cabinet
The Segni II Cabinet was the 14th cabinet of the Italian Republic
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and ...
, a position he maintained also in the following government led by
Fernando Tambroni
Fernando Tambroni Armaroli (25 November 1901 – 18 February 1963) was an Italian politician, member of the Christian Democracy, who served as 36th Prime Minister of Italy from March to July 1960. He also served as Minister of the Interior from ...
. In 1960 he was appointed Minister of Public Works in the
Fanfani III Cabinet
The Fanfani III Cabinet was the 16th cabinet of the Italian Republic
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, a ...
.
In 1975 he was elected National Secretary of DC, remaining in place until 1980 when he was replaced by
Flaminio Piccoli
Flaminio Piccoli (Kirchbichl, 28 December 1915 – Rome, 11 April 2000) was an Italian politician. He was a member of Christian Democracy until its dissolution in 1994, then a member of the United Christian Democrats and finally of the Rebir ...
. In 1984 he was elected in the
European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...
. In 1978, during his tenure as national secretary, Democrazia Cristiana's president and Zaccagnini's mentor
Aldo Moro
Aldo Romeo Luigi Moro (; 23 September 1916 – 9 May 1978) was an Italian statesman and a prominent member of the Christian Democracy (DC). He served as prime minister of Italy from December 1963 to June 1968 and then from November 1974 to July ...
was
kidnapped by terrorist group Brigate Rosse. The prisoner wrote numerous letters to Zaccagnini, initially invoking his help, then accusing him and other DC leaders of sacrificing him in order to save the new government, which Moro had been instrumental to form.
Zaccagnini died at
Ravenna
Ravenna ( , , also ; rgn, Ravèna) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire from 408 until its collapse in 476. It then served as the cap ...
in 1989.
External links
Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaccagnini, Benigno
1912 births
1989 deaths
People from Faenza
Christian Democracy (Italy) politicians
Government ministers of Italy
Members of the Constituent Assembly of Italy
Deputies of Legislature I of Italy
Deputies of Legislature II of Italy
Deputies of Legislature III of Italy
Deputies of Legislature IV of Italy
Deputies of Legislature V of Italy
Deputies of Legislature VI of Italy
Deputies of Legislature VII of Italy
Deputies of Legislature VIII of Italy
Senators of Legislature IX of Italy
Senators of Legislature X of Italy
Politicians of Emilia-Romagna
MEPs for Italy 1984–1989
Italian resistance movement members