Italy's Machiavellian ex-PM Andreotti dies aged 94
Source: Agencies |
May 7, 2013, Tuesday
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GIULIO Andreotti, who served as Italian prime minister seven times and whose name was synonymous with political survival and cunning in the land that gave the world Machiavelli, died yesterday at the age of 94.
Andreotti, for more than half a century known as "Mr Italy" because of the many offices he held, died at home, family sources said.
A leading member of the defunct Christian Democrat party which dominated Italian politics for almost 50 years after World War II, Andreotti was a lawmaker in every Italian parliament since 1945. He was made a senator for life in 1991.
His enemies called him Beelzebub but he was deeply religious and took communion from popes. He was accused and acquitted both of being a member of the mafia and of ordering the murder of a muck-raking journalist.
His supporters said he served his country like few others, helping transform Italy from war-devastated agricultural backwater to leading industrial power.
But many Italians believed he was the quintessential back-room wheeler-dealer, overseeing a political system riddled with cronyism and corruption.
He held nearly every political post in Italy short of the presidency and led seven post-war governments.
At the end of a sensational trial and two appeals, Andreotti was cleared in 2004 of charges he had been a member of the mafia.
However, Italy's highest court said he had ties until 1980 with gangsters, which were covered by the statute of limitations.
Andreotti was the subject of more than 20 parliamentary investigations on suspicion of under-the-counter dealings, ranging from corruption to links with shady financiers. On every occasion he was cleared.
As a life senator, Andreotti attended parliament regularly until recently when his health failed.
Andreotti, for more than half a century known as "Mr Italy" because of the many offices he held, died at home, family sources said.
A leading member of the defunct Christian Democrat party which dominated Italian politics for almost 50 years after World War II, Andreotti was a lawmaker in every Italian parliament since 1945. He was made a senator for life in 1991.
His enemies called him Beelzebub but he was deeply religious and took communion from popes. He was accused and acquitted both of being a member of the mafia and of ordering the murder of a muck-raking journalist.
His supporters said he served his country like few others, helping transform Italy from war-devastated agricultural backwater to leading industrial power.
But many Italians believed he was the quintessential back-room wheeler-dealer, overseeing a political system riddled with cronyism and corruption.
He held nearly every political post in Italy short of the presidency and led seven post-war governments.
At the end of a sensational trial and two appeals, Andreotti was cleared in 2004 of charges he had been a member of the mafia.
However, Italy's highest court said he had ties until 1980 with gangsters, which were covered by the statute of limitations.
Andreotti was the subject of more than 20 parliamentary investigations on suspicion of under-the-counter dealings, ranging from corruption to links with shady financiers. On every occasion he was cleared.
As a life senator, Andreotti attended parliament regularly until recently when his health failed.
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