Emilio Colombo

Emilio Colombo (11 April 1920 – 24 June 2013)[1] was an Italian politician and the Prime Minister of Italy from 1970 to 1972. In addition to having held top positions in Italian governments, he was also the president of the European Parliament. In 2003 he was appointed to be an Italian senator for life, a seat which he held until his death. In the first five years as senator, he was an independent. From 2008 until his death in June 2013, Colombo was a member of the Autonomies group, formed mainly by elects in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Senator for life Emilio Colombo
40th Prime Minister of Italy
In office 6 August 1970 – 17 February 1972
President	Giuseppe Saragat Giovanni Leone
Preceded by	Mariano Rumor
Succeeded by	Giulio Andreotti
President of the European Parliament
In office 8 March 1977 – 17 July 1979
Preceded by	Georges Spénale
Succeeded by	Simone Veil
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 1 August 1992 – 28 April 1993
Prime Minister	Giuliano Amato
Preceded by	Vincenzo Scotti
Succeeded by	Beniamino Andreatta
In office 4 April 1980 – 4 August 1983
Prime Minister	Arnaldo Forlani Giovanni Spadolini Amintore Fanfani
Preceded by	Attilio Ruffini
Succeeded by	Giulio Andreotti
Minister of Finance
In office 13 April 1988 – 22 July 1989
Prime Minister	Ciriaco De Mita
Preceded by	Antonio Gava
Succeeded by	Rino Formica
Minister of Budget
In office 29 July 1987 – 13 April 1988
Prime Minister	Giovanni Goria
Preceded by	Giovanni Goria
Succeeded by	Amintore Fanfani
In office 25 June 1968 – 13 December 1968
Prime Minister	Giovanni Leone
Preceded by	Giovanni Pieraccini
Succeeded by	Luigi Preti
Minister of Treasury
In office 15 March 1974 – 30 July 1976
Prime Minister	Mariano Rumor Aldo Moro
Preceded by	Ugo La Malfa
Succeeded by	Gaetano Stammati
In office 18 February 1972 – 26 June 1972
Prime Minister	Giulio Andreotti
Preceded by	Mario Ferrari Aggradi
Succeeded by	Giovanni Malagodi
In office 22 June 1963 – 6 August 1970
Prime Minister	Giovanni Leone Aldo Moro Mariano Rumor
Preceded by	Roberto Tremelloni
Succeeded by	Mario Ferrari Aggradi
Minister of Grace and Justice
In office 6 August 1970 – 17 February 1972
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Oronzo Reale
Succeeded by	Guido Gonella
Minister of Foreign Trade
In office 2 July 1958 – 16 February 1959
Prime Minister	Amintore Fanfani
Preceded by	Guido Carli
Succeeded by	Rinaldo Del Bo
Minister of Agriculture
In office 6 July 1955 – 2 July 1958
Prime Minister	Antonio Segni Adone Zoli
Preceded by	Giuseppe Medici
Succeeded by	Mario Ferrari Aggradi
Mayor of Potenza
In office 14 June 1952 – 14 January 1955
Preceded by	Pietro Scognamiglio
Succeeded by	Vincenzo Solimena
Member of the Parliament Member of the Senate of the Republic In office 4 February 2003 – 24 June 2013 Constituency Senator for life Member of the European Parliament In office 18 June 1989 – 9 June 1994 Constituency Southern Italy In office 10 June 1979 – 14 June 1984 Constituency Southern Italy Member of the Chamber of Deputies In office 8 May 1948 – 6 April 1992 Constituency Potenza–Matera Member of the Constituent Assembly In office 25 June 1946 – 31 January 1948 Constituency Potenza–Matera
Personal details
Born	(1920-04-11)11 April 1920 Potenza, Basilicata, Kingdom of Italy
Died	24 June 2013(2013-06-24) (aged 93) Rome, Lazio, Italy
Political party	Christian Democracy

Early life and education

Colombo was born in Potenza, Basilicata on 11 April 1920.[2] He held a law degree.[3]

Career

Emilio Colombo with Ronald Reagan (1981)

Colombo entered politics as a member of the Christian Democracy in 1948.[4][5] He was firstly elected to the parliament in 1948.[6] Having held several cabinet posts, he served as the prime minister of Italy from 1970 until his resignation in 1972.[4]

A number of progressive reforms were introduced during Colombo's time as prime minister. A housing reform law of 22 October 1971 introduced new criteria for land expropriations and provisions for urban renewals. Under a law of 6 December 1971, state funds were made available for the construction of a kindergarten in every local authority. A law of 30 December 1971 introduced new regulations covering protection of female workers and maternity insurance. The duration of maternity leave was extended two months prior to, and two months after confinement for all employees, and all female workers were entitled to an earnings-related indemnity, equal to 80% of earnings (including agricultural workers and tenant farmers). Also introduced was an entitlement to voluntary extra period of leave for six months during the first year of the child’s life, with job security and an indemnity equal to 30% of earnings, together with an entitlement to paid absences due to the child’s sickness during the first three years if the child’s life. In addition, a special natality allowance was introduced for self-employed women in the agricultural, artisan, and commercial sectors.[7]

Later he became president of the European Parliament (occupying that office from 1977 until 1979) and foreign minister of Italy (from 1980 until 1983, and again from 1992 until 1993).[4] In February 2003 then president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi bestowed Italy's highest political honour on him, by nominating him Senator for life.[4]

After the inconclusive elections on 24–25 February 2013 and the following difficulties of the hung Senate in electing a presiding officer, Colombo became acting speaker of the Senate, being the most senior member, until the election of Pietro Grasso on 16 March 2013.

After the death of Giulio Andreotti on 6 May 2013, Colombo became the last surviving member of the Italian Constituent Assembly.[4]

Personal life

In November 2003, he admitted to have used cocaine (for "therapeutic purposes") over a 12- to 18-month period.[8][9]

Colombo died in Rome on 24 June 2013 at the age of 93.[6][10]

Honours and awards

• Gold Medal of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe, in 2011.

References

1. Profile of Emilio Colombo
2. Page at Senate website (in Italian)
3. "Emilio Colombo". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
4. "Senator-for-life, framer of Italian Constitution, dies at 94". La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno. Rome. ANSA. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
5. "Former Italian prime minister Emilio Colombo dead at 93". NewsDaily. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
6. "Former Italian prime minister Emilio Colombo dead at 93". Reuters. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
7. Growth to Limits: The Western European Welfare States Since World War II Volume 4 edited by Peter Flora
8. Scalfari, Eugenio (27 February 2007). "Casini dica Dico". L'Espresso (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
9. Hooper, John (27 November 2003). "Former PM tells of regular cocaine use". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
10. "È morto Emilio Colombo: aveva 93 anni L'Italia dice addio all'ultimo padre costituente". la Repubblica (in Italian). 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.

Political offices
Preceded by Pietro Scognamiglio	Mayor of Potenza 1952–1955	Succeeded by Vincenzo Solimena
Preceded by Giuseppe Medici	Italian Minister of Agriculture 1955–1958	Succeeded by Mario Ferrari Aggradi
Preceded by Guido Carli	Italian Minister of Foreign Trade 1958–1959	Succeeded by Rinaldo Del Bo
Preceded by Giorgio Bo	Italian Minister of Industry 1959–1963	Succeeded by Giuseppe Togni
Preceded by Roberto Tremelloni	Italian Minister of Treasury 1963–1970	Succeeded by Mario Ferrari Aggradi
Preceded by Giovanni Pieraccini	Italian Minister of Budget 1968–1968	Succeeded by Luigi Preti
Preceded by Mariano Rumor	Prime Minister of Italy 1970–1972	Succeeded by Giulio Andreotti
Preceded by Oronzo Reale	Italian Minister of Justice 1971–1972	Succeeded by Guido Gonella
Preceded by Mario Ferrari Aggradi	Italian Minister of Treasury 1972–1972	Succeeded by Giovanni Francesco Malagodi
Preceded by Title jointly held	Italian Minister without portfolio 1972–1973	Succeeded by Title jointly held
Preceded by Athos Valsecchi	Italian Minister of Finance 1973–1974	Succeeded by Mario Tanassi
Preceded by Ugo La Malfa	Italian Minister of Treasury 1974–1976	Succeeded by Gaetano Stammati
Preceded by Georges Spénale	President of the European Parliament 1977–1979	Succeeded by Simone Veil
Preceded by Attilio Ruffini	Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs 1980–1983	Succeeded by Giulio Andreotti
Preceded by Giovanni Goria	Italian Minister of Budget 1987–1988	Succeeded by Amintore Fanfani
Preceded by Antonio Gava	Italian Minister of Finance 1988–1989	Succeeded by Rino Formica
Preceded by Vincenzo Scotti	Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs 1992–1993	Succeeded by Beniamino Andreatta
Italian Chamber of Deputies
Preceded by None, Parliament re-established	Member of Parliament for Basilicata Legislatures: CA, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI 1946 – 1992	Succeeded by Title jointly held
Assembly seats
Preceded by Parliament established	Member of European Parliament for Southern Italy Legislatures: I, III 1979 – 1980 1989 – 1992	Succeeded by Title jointly held
Italian Senate
Preceded by Title jointly held	Lifetime Italian Senator Legislatures: XIV, XV, XVI 2003 – 2013	Succeeded by Title jointly held