Amintore Fanfani

Prime Minister of Italy

6 February 1908 Pieve Santo Stefano, Tuscany, Kingdom of Italy

20 November 1999(1999-11-20) (91) Rome, Lazio, Italy

18 April 1987 – 29 July 1987

Amintore Fanfani (Italian pronunciation:  ; 6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and statesman, who served as 32nd prime minister of Italy for five separate terms. He was one of the best-known Italian politicians after the Second World War and a historical figure of the left-wing faction of Christian Democracy. He is also considered one of the founders of the modern Italian centre-left. Beginning as a protégé of Alcide De Gasperi, Fanfani achieved cabinet rank at a young age and occupied all the major offices of state over the course of a forty-year political career. In foreign policy, he was one of the most vocal supporters of European integration and established closer relations with the Arab world. In domestic policy, he was known for his cooperation with the Italian Socialist Party, which bring to an alliance which radically renewed the country, thanks to numerous reforms, including the nationalization of Enel, the extension of compulsory education and the introduction of a more progressive tax system. Fanfani served in numerous ministerial positions, including Minister of the Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Labour, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning. He served also as President of the Italian Senate for three terms between 1968 and 1987. He was appointed senator for life in 1972. Six years later, after the resignation of Giovanni Leone, he provisionally assumed the functions of President of the Republic as chairman of the upper house of Parliament, until the election of Sandro Pertini. However, despite his long political experience and personal prestige, Fanfani never succeeded in being elected head of state. Fanfani and the long-time liberal leader Giovanni Giolitti still hold the record as the only statesmen to have served as prime minister of Italy in five non-consecutive periods of office. He was sometimes nicknamed "Cavallo di Razza" ("Purebred Horse"), thanks to his innate political ability; however his detractors simply called him "Pony", due to his small size.