Nilde Iotti | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 20 June 1979 – 22 April 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Pietro Ingrao |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Luigi Scalfaro |
| Member of theChamber of Deputies | |
| In office 8 May 1948 – 18 November 1999 | |
| Constituency | Parma (1948–1958) Bologna (1958–1968) Parma (1968–1994) Marche (1994–1999) |
| Member of theConstituent Assembly | |
| In office 25 June 1946 – 31 January 1948 | |
| Constituency | Parma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leonilde Iotti (1920-04-10)10 April 1920 |
| Died | 4 December 1999(1999-12-04) (aged 79) Poli, Italy |
| Political party | PCI (1943–1991) PDS (1991–1998) DS (1998–1999) |
| Domestic partner | Palmiro Togliatti (1946–1964; his death) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore |
| Profession | Politician, teacher |
| Website | Nilde Iotti Foundation |
Leonilde "Nilde"Iotti (Italian pronunciation:[(leo)ˈnildeˈjɔtti]; 10 April 1920 – 4 December 1999) was an Italian politician, member of theItalian Communist Party (PCI). Towards the end of World War Two, she fought as a partisan for the Italian resistance. She was the first and only woman member of the PCI to become the president of theChamber of Deputies, an office she held for three consecutive legislatures from 1979 to 1992, becoming the longest-serving post-war president of the Chamber.
Leonilde Iotti was born inReggio Emilia in 1920; her father Egidio was arailroader and a socialisttrade unionist, fired by therailway company on account of his political commitment. Her father died in 1934, but, thanks to ascholarship, she attended theCatholic University of Milan, graduating in literature in 1942. Amongst her professors at the university wasAmintore Fanfani, the future Christian Democratic leader andPrime Minister.[1] On 5 October 1942, Iotti became a member of theNational Fascist Party (PNF) within the Federation of Female Fascists ofReggio Emilia; this membership was required in order to become a teacher.[2]
AfterBenito Mussolini's downfall in July 1943 andPietro Badoglio'sproclamation on September 8, which caused the beginning of thecivil war, Iotti became interested in communist ideals and took part in theresistance movement against theNazi German invaders duringWorld War II.[3]
After the end of the war and thereferendum against theSavoy Monarchy, in 1946, Iotti waselected member of theConstituent Assembly, within theItalian Communist Party (PCI). She was also one of the 75 members of the Committee entrusted with the drafting of theItalian Republican Constitution.
In the same year Iotti began her relationship with the communist leaderPalmiro Togliatti, who was 27 years older than her; this lasted until his death in 1964. Their relationship, which was kept secret in the early years, became public knowledge in 1948 after anattempt on Togliatti's life, a few days after thegeneral election. Their love was opposed by Italy's public opinion, including many communists, because Togliatti was already married toRita Montagnana at the time. However, Togliatti forced his wife Rita and their son Aldo, who was mentally ill, to live inMoscow, so he could continue his relationship with Iotti. Together they asked for and obtained the adoption of an orphan girl, Marisa Malagoli, the younger sister of one of the six workers killed byCarabinieri on 9 January 1950 inModena, during a workers' demonstration.[4]
In April 1948, Iotti was re-elected with the PCI to the Chamber of Deputies, of which she was a member without interruption until 1999. In 1956, she became a member of the Central Committee of the Party and in 1962 of the National Direction. Re-elected to the Chamber in1963, she was appointed to the Constitutional Affairs Commission, focusing her activity on the relevance of the female role in the world of work and family relationships. In the following years, her main commitment became the reform ofcivil rights, notably the right todivorce. She was particularly involved in the campaign for the1974 divorce referendum.
After the1979 Italian general election, thanks to the support of PCI's historic rival,Christian Democracy (DC), Iotti becamePresident of the Chamber of Deputies, with 443 votes out of 615. She succeeded another communist,Pietro Ingrao. Iotti focused her first speech in front of the House on women's role in society as well as the fight against terrorism.
Iotti was popular and respected as a president, and was confirmed in the office for two more legislatures. In 1987, she was entrusted byPresidentFrancesco Cossiga with a mandate of potentially forming a government. She became the first communist and the first woman to have ever received an exploratory mandate to becomePrime Minister of Italy; however, Iotti was not able to form a coalition.[5]
In 1992, Iotti's name was put forward for the election forPresident of the Italian Republic.[6]
She was an atheist.[7]
She died inRome on 4 December 1999, and is buried in theCimitero del Verano.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies 1979–1992 | Succeeded by |
