A permanent fixture of Italy’s post-war political landscape, Giulio Andreotti died yesterday aged 94.
An inspiration- Fenech Adami
Having served seven times as prime minister, a diminutive man, stooped, with a sense of humour, Mr Andreotti was a veritable little giant of Italian politics, immediately recognisable by generations of Italians.
He helped draft the country’s constitution after the Second World War, sat in Parliament for more than six decades and steered the conservative Christian Democratic Party into successive coalitions.
He first became prime minister in 1972 but, being a pragmatist, four years later, he was the first Christian Democrat to accept Communist support, even if indirectly, in one of his governments.
The Cabinet that was formed after big Communist gains in the 1976 general election needed the Communists and other leftists to abstain – rather than cast “no” votes – during parliamentary votes.
Mr Andreotti remained a senator-for-life in Italy’s upper house of Parliament.
The veteran politician also had his fair share of controversies, including an accusation that he exchanged a “kiss of honour” with a Mafia boss. He was indicted in what was called “the trial of the century” in Palermo in the mid-1990s.
He denied any wrongdoing and was eventually cleared by Italy’s highest court.
Reminiscing on his depiction by the left-leaning media as the bête noire of Italian politics, Mr Andreotti once said: “Apart from the Punic Wars, everything else has been attributed to me.”
President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami said Mr Andreotti was a sophist and described him as “an inspiration”.
He brushed off the controversial aspects, which he said were a result of the man’s centrality to Italian politics for so long a time.
“He will be remembered in history not only as an Italian politician, who shaped the country’s post-war destiny but as a European sophist who influenced the bloc’s Mediterranean dimension,” Dr Fenech Adami said.
Mr Andreotti was “a man of values” who embraced the principles of Christian Democracy, he added.
Foreign Minister George Vella described Mr Andreotti as “an icon” of Italian politics.
“He gave Italy an immense contribution; he was the mainstay of the Democratic Christian party, very controversial but an important figure nonetheless.”
Dr Vella said he was impressed by Mr Andreotti’s crystal clear memory when they met some four years ago. “He remembered names and dates in such an impressive way despite his age.”
It was an observation shared by former Speaker and once foreign minister Michael Frendo, who was struck by Mr Andreotti’s “lively and creative mind” despite his age.
“He was a point of reference for many decades in Italy and this made him an institution rather than a politician,” Dr Frendo said, adding the former Italian prime minister was a friend of Malta.
Mr Andreotti was born on January 14, 1919 in Rome and was elected for the first time to Parliament in 1948. He occupied various ministerial roles apart from being prime minister.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com