Emilio Colombo
{{Short description|Italian politician (1920–2013)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Senator for life
| name = Emilio Colombo
| image = Emilio Colombo crop.jpg
| office = Prime Minister of Italy
| president = Giuseppe Saragat
Giovanni Leone
| term_start = 6 August 1970
| term_end = 18 February 1972
| deputy = Francesco De Martino
| predecessor = Mariano Rumor
| successor = Giulio Andreotti
| office1 = President of the European Parliament
| order1 = 12th
| term_start1 = 8 March 1977
| term_end1 = 17 July 1979
| predecessor1 = Georges Spénale
| successor1 = Simone Veil
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |Ministerial offices
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes
| office2 = Minister of Foreign Affairs
| term_start2 = 1 August 1992
| term_end2 = 28 April 1993
| predecessor2 = Vincenzo Scotti
| successor2 = Beniamino Andreatta
| primeminister2 = Giuliano Amato
| term_start3 = 4 April 1980
| term_end3 = 4 August 1983
| predecessor3 = Attilio Ruffini
| successor3 = Giulio Andreotti
| primeminister3 = Arnaldo Forlani
Giovanni Spadolini
Amintore Fanfani
| office4 = Minister of Finance
| primeminister4 = Ciriaco De Mita
| term_start4 = 13 April 1988
| term_end4 = 23 July 1989
| predecessor4 = Antonio Gava
| successor4 = Rino Formica
| office5 = Minister of Budget
| primeminister5 = Giovanni Goria
| term_start5 = 29 July 1987
| term_end5 = 13 April 1988
| predecessor5 = Giovanni Goria
| successor5 = Amintore Fanfani
| primeminister6 = Giovanni Leone
| term_start6 = 25 June 1968
| term_end6 = 13 December 1968
| predecessor6 = Giovanni Pieraccini
| successor6 = Luigi Preti
| office7 = Minister of Treasury
| primeminister7 = Mariano Rumor
Aldo Moro
| term_start7 = 15 March 1974
| term_end7 = 30 July 1976
| predecessor7 = Ugo La Malfa
| successor7 = Gaetano Stammati
| primeminister8 = Giulio Andreotti
| term_start8 = 18 February 1972
| term_end8 = 26 June 1972
| predecessor8 = Mario Ferrari Aggradi
| successor8 = Giovanni Malagodi
| primeminister9 = Giovanni Leone
Aldo Moro
Mariano Rumor
| term_start9 = 22 June 1963
| term_end9 = 6 August 1970
| predecessor9 = Roberto Tremelloni
| successor9 = Mario Ferrari Aggradi
| office10 = Minister of Grace and Justice
| primeminister10 = Himself
| term_start10 = 6 March 1971
| term_end10 = 17 February 1972
| predecessor10 = Oronzo Reale
| successor10 = Guido Gonella
| office11 = Minister of Foreign Trade
| primeminister11 = Amintore Fanfani
| term_start11 = 2 July 1958
| term_end11 = 16 February 1959
| predecessor11 = Guido Carli
| successor11 = Rinaldo Del Bo
| office12 = Minister of Agriculture
| primeminister12 = Antonio Segni
Adone Zoli
| term_start12 = 6 July 1955
| term_end12 = 2 July 1958
| predecessor12 = Giuseppe Medici
| successor12 = Mario Ferrari Aggradi
| office13 = Mayor of Potenza
| term_start13 = 14 June 1952
| term_end13 = 14 January 1955
| predecessor13 = Pietro Scognamiglio
| successor13 = Vincenzo Solimena{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |Member of the Parliament
|cont = yes
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}{{Infobox officeholder
|embed = yes
|office2 = Member of the Senate
|term_label2 = Life tenure
|term_start2 = 14 January 2003
|term_end2 = 24 June 2013
|appointer2 = Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
|office3 = Member of the European Parliament
|term_start3 = 25 July 1989
|term_end3 = 19 July 1994
|constituency3 = Southern Italy
|term_start4 = 17 July 1979
|term_end4 = 24 July 1984
|constituency4 = Southern Italy
|office5 = Member of the Chamber of Deputies
|term_start5 = 8 May 1948
|term_end5 = 9 September 1992
|constituency5 = Potenza–Matera
|office6 = Member of the Constituent Assembly
|term_start6 = 25 June 1946
|term_end6 = 31 January 1948
|constituency6 = Potenza–Matera{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1920|4|11}}
| birth_place = Potenza, Kingdom of Italy
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2013|6|24|1920|4|11}}
| death_place = Rome, Italy
| party = Christian Democracy
| height = {{convert|1.73|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| alma_mater = Sapienza University
}}
}}
}}
Emilio Colombo ({{IPA|it|eˈmiːljo koˈlombo|lang}}; 11 April 1920 – 24 June 2013) was an Italian politician. A member of the Christian Democracy party, he served as Prime Minister of Italy from August 1970 to February 1972. In 2003, he was appointed senator for life, a seat he held until his death.[https://books.google.com/books?id=tZYrDwAAQBAJ&dq=Emilio+Colombo+2013&pg=PA228 Profile of Emilio Colombo]
During his long political career, Colombo held many offices in several governments. He served as Minister of Agriculture from 1955 to 1958; {{ill|Minister of Foreign Trade (Italy)|lt=Minister of Foreign Trade|it|Ministri del commercio internazionale della Repubblica Italiana}} from 1958 to 1959; Minister of Grace and Justice from 1970 to 1972; Minister of Treasury from 1963 to 1970, in 1962 and from 1974 to 1976; Minister of Budget in 1968 and from 1987 to 1988; Minister of Finance from 1988 to 1989; and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1980 to 1983 and from 1992 to 1993. A fervent Europeanist, he also served as president of the European Parliament from 1977 to 1979.[https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/it/emilio-colombo_4203_pk Emilio Colombo – Multimedia Center], European Parliament
Early life and education
Colombo was born in Potenza, Basilicata, on 11 April 1920.[http://www.senato.it/leg/16/BGT/Schede/Attsen/00000638.htm Page at Senate website] {{in lang|it}} He grew up, along with his six brothers, in a middle-class family; his father, Angelo Colombo, was a public administration's official, while his mother, Rosa Tordella, was a housewife.[https://www.centenarioemiliocolombo.it/emilio-colombo/ Emilio Colombo], Centenario Emilio Colombo
In 1935, he founded the first local section of Catholic Action (AC), a widespread Catholic association and one of the few non-fascist organizations, admitted by the regime of Benito Mussolini. In 1937, Colombo became the president of Potenza's Catholic Action and a member of the National Council of Catholic Action's Youth. In the same year, he obtained the classical lyceum diploma at the high school entitled to Quintus Horatius Flaccus in Potenza.
In 1941, Colombo graduated in law at the Sapienza University of Rome, with a thesis on canon law.{{cite web|title=Emilio Colombo|url=http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Ministero/IL_MAE/Ministri_Esteri/Emilio_Colombo.htm|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=22 April 2013}} On 1 August 1942, he was enrolled and took part in the World War II. In September 1943, after the armistice, Colombo returned to Basilicata, starting his political commitment based on anti-fascist and Christian democratic principles. From 1944 to 1947, he was appointed general secretary of Azione Cattolica's youth wing.
Political career
Colombo entered politics as a member of the Christian Democracy (DC) party in 1943.{{cite news|title=Former Italian prime minister Emilio Colombo dead at 93|url=http://www.newsdaily.com/article/02af98fb58844e641b779301e8257a43/former-italian-prime-minister-emilio-colombo-dead-at-93|access-date=26 June 2013|newspaper=NewsDaily|date=25 June 2013|archive-date=28 June 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628033823/http://www.newsdaily.com/article/02af98fb58844e641b779301e8257a43/former-italian-prime-minister-emilio-colombo-dead-at-93|url-status=dead}} In the 1946 Italian general election, Colombo was elected to the Constituent Assembly of Italy with nearly 21,000 votes, becoming one of the youngest members of the Italian Parliament.[https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/candidati.php?tpel=A&dtel=02/06/1946&tpa=I&tpe=I&lev0=0&levsut0=0&lev1=27&levsut1=1&ne1=27&es0=S&es1=S&ms=S&ne=27&nlg=1&ts=C&ccp=1 Elezioni 1946: Circoscrizione Potenza– Matera], Ministero dell'Interno He was elected for the constituency of Potenza–Matera, which would remain his stronghold for all his political career.
File:Segni De Gasperi Colombo.jpg and Antonio Segni in the early 1950s]]
After two years, in the 1948 Italian general election, Colombo was re-elected in the country's Chamber of Deputies for his constituency with more than 43,000 votes.[https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/candidati.php?tpel=C&dtel=18/04/1948&tpa=I&tpe=I&lev0=0&levsut0=0&lev1=26&levsut1=1&ne1=26&es0=S&es1=S&ms=S&ne=26&nlg=1&ts=C&ccp=1 Elezioni 1948: Circoscrizione Potenza– Matera], Ministero dell'Interno From May 1948 to July 1951, he was appointed undersecretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests in the 5th and 6th governments of Alcide De Gasperi.[http://www.governo.it/i-governi-dal-1943-ad-oggi/i-legislatura-8-maggio-1948-4-aprile-1953/governo-de-gasperi-v/3228 Governo De Gasperi V], governo.it[http://www.governo.it/i-governi-dal-1943-ad-oggi/i-legislatura-8-maggio-1948-4-aprile-1953/governo-de-gasperi-vi/3227 Governo De Gasperi VI], governo.it
During these years, Colombo was involved in a successful mediation in Calabria in 1949 during clashes for the occupations of the lands by peasants. He also collaborated with minister Antonio Segni in the approval of the agrarian reform. The land reform, approved by the parliament in October 1950, was financed in part by the funds of the Marshall Plan launched by the United States in 1947 and considered by some scholars as the most important reform of the entire post-war period.Corrado Barberis, Teoria e storia della riforma agraria, Florence, Vallecchi, 1957 The reform proposed, through forced expropriation, the distribution of land to agricultural laborers, thus making them small entrepreneurs and no longer subject to the large landowner.[https://agriregionieuropa.univpm.it/it/content/article/31/52/riforma-agraria-e-modernizzazione-rurale-italia-nel-ventesimo-secolo Riforma agraria e modernizzazione rurale in Italia nel ventesimo secolo] If in some ways the reform had this beneficial result, for others it significantly reduced the size of farms, effectively removing any possibility of transforming them into advanced businesses. This negative element was mitigated and in some cases eliminated by forms of cooperatives.[https://www.jstor.org/stable/23719889?seq=1 Alcide De Gasperi tra riforma agraria e guerra fredda (1948–1950)]
Prime Minister of Italy
File:Emilio Colombo with Ronald Reagan.jpg in 1981]]
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.Growth to Limits: The Western European Welfare States Since World War II Volume 4 edited by Peter Flora
File:Emilio_Colombo_datisenato.jpg
Between 1977 and 1979, Colombo was the president of the European Parliament. From 1980 to 1983 and again from 1992 to 1993, he was foreign minister of Italy.
Later life
In 2003, then president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi bestowed Italy's highest political honour on him by nominating him senator for life. In the first five years as a lifetime senator, he was an independent politician. From 2008 until his death in June 2013, Colombo was a member of the For the Autonomies group, formed mainly by elects in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. After the inconclusive 2023 Italian general election and the following difficulties of the Senate of the Republic in electing a presiding officer, Colombo became its provisional president until the election of Pietro Grasso on 16 March 2013. The oldest senator, former prime minister Giulio Andreotti was due to inaugurate the new legislature but his unavailability benefited Colombo. After the death of Andreotti on 6 May 2013, Colombo became the last surviving member of the Italian Constituent Assembly.{{cite news|title=Senator-for-life, framer of Italian Constitution, dies at 94|url=http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/english/president-pays-respects-to-ex-premier-emilio-colombo-no631284|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628033823/http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/english/president-pays-respects-to-ex-premier-emilio-colombo-no631284|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 June 2013|access-date=26 June 2013|newspaper=La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno|date=25 June 2013|agency=ANSA|location=Rome}}
Personal life
In November 2003, Colombo admitted to having used cocaine for therapeutic purposes over a 12- to 18-month period.{{cite news |title=Casini dica Dico |first=Eugenio |last=Scalfari |url=http://espresso.repubblica.it/dettaglio/Casini-dica-Dico/1524293/1&ref=hpsp |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=20 July 2007 |newspaper=L'Espresso |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616182827/http://espresso.repubblica.it/dettaglio/Casini-dica-Dico/1524293/1%26ref%3Dhpsp |archive-date=16 June 2010 }}{{cite news|title=Former PM tells of regular cocaine use |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/26/1069825837420.html?from=storyrhs|first=John|last=Hooper|date=27 November 2003|access-date=20 July 2007|location=Melbourne|newspaper=The Age}} He died in Rome on 24 June 2013 at the age of 93.{{cite news|title=Former Italian prime minister Emilio Colombo dead at 93|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-colombo-idUSBRE95O0K720130625|access-date=26 June 2013|work=Reuters|date=25 June 2013}}{{cite news| url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2013/06/24/news/morto_emilio_colombo_aveva_93_anni_l_italia_dice_addio_all_ultimo_padre_costituente-61790779/|title=È morto Emilio Colombo: aveva 93 anni L'Italia dice addio all'ultimo padre costituente|newspaper=la Repubblica| date=24 June 2013|access-date=24 June 2013|language=it }}
Honours and awards
- France: Grand Officier of the Legion of Honour
- Iran: Commemorative Medal of the 2,500 year celebration of the Persian Empire
- Italy: Knight of Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Italy: Grand Cross of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
- EU: Gold Medal of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe, 2011
Electoral history
| class=wikitable style="width:70%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid" |
| width=12%|Election
! width=30%|House ! width=25%|Constituency ! width=5% colspan="2"|Party ! width=12%|Votes ! width=30%|Result |
|---|
| 1946
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 20,922 | {{nowrap|{{tick|15}} Elected}} |
| 1948
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 43,691 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1953
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 54,288 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1958
| | Potenza–Matera | bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 88,411 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1963
| | Potenza–Matera | bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 79,194 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1968
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 103,345 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1972
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 117,902 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1976
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 90,420 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1979
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 90,818 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1979
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 860,147 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1983
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 105,345 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1987
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 105,047 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1989
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 364,541 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1992
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democracy (Italy)}}" | | DC | 31,850 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 2001
| Basilicata – Potenza | bgcolor="#6495ed" | | DE | 11,298 | {{cross|15}} Not elected |
References
{{Portal|Biography|Politics|Italy|European Union}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- The [https://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/561925?item=EC Archives] of Emilio Colombo are consultable at [https://sturzo.it/archivio/ Fondazione Luigi Sturzo, Roma] and at the [https://www.eui.eu/en/academic-units/historical-archives-of-the-european-union Historical Archives of the European Union.]
- {{Commons-inline}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Colombo, Emilio}}
Category:Christian Democracy (Italy) politicians
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