biography
pronunciation:
[andrayottee]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1919– )
|
| biography:
| Italian politician and prime minister (1972–3, 1976–8, 1978–9, 1989–92), born in Rome, Italy. He was president of FUCI (Federation of Catholic University Students) during the war, and a member of the Constituent Assembly and a deputy of the Democrazia Cristiana (Christian Democracy Party). He played an increasingly important part in post-war Italian politics, and was successively minister of the interior (1954), finance (1955–8), treasury (1958–9), defence (1959–66, 1974), industry and commerce (1966–8), foreign affairs (1983–7, 1987–9), and finally prime minister (1972–3, 1976–8, 1978–9, 1989–92). A life senator since 1991, he is also a prolific journalist and writer. In 1995 he was accused by one of the pentiti (former Mafia members who have ‘repented’ and turned informer) of connivance with the Mafia and put on trial. He also went to trial in 1996 for ordering the murder of a journalist said to have incriminating information. In 1999 he was acquitted of both sets of charges, that acquittal was overturned in 2002 when he was found guilty of murder and given a prison sentence. |
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