Nilde Iotti
{{short description|Italian politician (1920–1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nilde Iotti
| image = Nilde Iotti.png
| order = President of the Chamber of Deputies
| term_start = 20 June 1979
| term_end = 22 April 1992
| predecessor = Pietro Ingrao
| successor = Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
| office2 = Member of the Chamber of Deputies
| term_start2 = 8 May 1948
| term_end2 = 18 November 1999
| constituency2 = Parma (1948–1958)
Bologna (1958–1968)
Parma (1968–1994)
Marche (1994–1999)
| office3 = Member of the Constituent Assembly
| term_start3 = 25 June 1946
| term_end3 = 31 January 1948
| constituency3 = Parma
| birth_name = Leonilde Iotti
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1920|4|10}}
| birth_place = Reggio Emilia, Kingdom of Italy
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1999|12|4|1920|4|10}}
| death_place = Poli, Italy
| nationality = Italian
| profession = Politician, teacher
| children =
| partner = Palmiro Togliatti (1946–1964)
| spouse =
| alma_mater = Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
| party = PCI (1943–1991)
PDS (1991–1998)
DS (1998–1999)
| otherparty =
| website = [http://www.fondazionenildeiotti.it/index.php Nilde Iotti Foundation]
}}
{{Communism in Italy|expanded=People}}
Leonilde "Nilde" Iotti ({{IPA|it|(leo)ˈnilde ˈjɔtti}}; 10 April 1920 – 4 December 1999) was an Italian politician, member of the Italian 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 the Chamber of Deputies, an office she held for three consecutive legislatures from 1979 to 1992, becoming the longest-serving post-war president of the Chamber.
Early life
Leonilde Iotti was born in Reggio Emilia in 1920; her father Egidio was a railroader and a socialist trade unionist, fired by the railway company on account of his political commitment. Her father died in 1934, but, thanks to a scholarship, she attended the Catholic University of Milan, graduating in literature in 1942. Amongst her professors at the university was Amintore Fanfani, the future Christian Democratic leader and Prime Minister.[https://storia.camera.it/presidenti/iotti-nilde Camera dei Deputati – Nilde Iotti] On 5 October 1942, Iotti became a member of the National Fascist Party (PNF) within the Federation of Female Fascists of Reggio Emilia; this membership was required in order to become a teacher.{{cite web |url=https://www.riscossacristiana.it/nilde-iotti-la-tessera-n-1105040-del-partito-nazionale-fascista-di-lino-di-stefano/ |title=Nilde Iotti e la tessera del Partito Nazionale Fascista |access-date=2019-12-10 |archive-date=2019-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103161244/https://www.riscossacristiana.it/nilde-iotti-la-tessera-n-1105040-del-partito-nazionale-fascista-di-lino-di-stefano/ |url-status=dead}}
After Benito Mussolini's downfall in July 1943 and Pietro Badoglio's proclamation on September 8, which caused the beginning of the civil war, Iotti became interested in communist ideals and took part in the resistance movement against the Nazi German invaders during World War II.[http://www.bibliotecamarxista.org/mafai/cap%205.htm Miriam Mafai. "Ma chi è quella signora?"]
Political career
After the end of the war and the referendum against the Savoy Monarchy, in 1946, Iotti was elected member of the Constituent Assembly, within the Italian Communist Party (PCI). She was also one of the 75 members of the Committee entrusted with the drafting of the Italian Republican Constitution.
In the same year Iotti began her relationship with the communist leader Palmiro 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 an attempt on Togliatti's life, a few days after the general election. Their love was opposed by Italy's public opinion, including many communists, because Togliatti was already married to Rita Montagnana at the time. However, Togliatti forced his wife Rita and their son Aldo, who was mentally ill, to live in Moscow, 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 by Carabinieri on 9 January 1950 in Modena, during a workers' demonstration.[https://www.sitocomunista.it/italia/archiviostorico/modena1950.html Sei morti e cinquanta feriti]
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 in 1963, 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 of civil rights, notably the right to divorce. She was particularly involved in the campaign for the 1974 divorce referendum.
After the 1979 Italian general election, thanks to the support of PCI's historic rival, Christian Democracy (DC), Iotti became President 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 by President Francesco 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 become Prime Minister of Italy; however, Iotti was not able to form a coalition.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-nilde-iotti-1130596.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-nilde-iotti-1130596.html |archive-date=2022-06-21 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Obituary: Nilde Iotti|date=23 October 2011|work=The Independent}}
In 1992, Iotti's name was put forward for the election for President of the Italian Republic.{{Cite web |last=Travaglio |first=Marco |date=2013-04-17 |title=Colle, gli 11 presidenti - Scalfaro, l'uomo dell'emergenza |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/04/17/colle-11-presidenti-scalfaro-al-quirinale-per-672-elett/566215/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Il Fatto Quotidiano |language=it-IT}}
Personal life
Death
She died in Rome on 4 December 1999, and is buried in the Cimitero del Verano.
Electoral history
| class=wikitable style="width:65%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid" |
| width=12%|Election
! width=30%|House ! width=45%|Constituency ! width=5% colspan="2"|Party ! width=12%|Votes ! width=12%|Result |
|---|
| 1946
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 15,936 | {{nowrap|{{tick|15}} Elected}} |
| 1948
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 51,340 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1953
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 33,480 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1958
| Bologna–Ferrara–Ravenna–Forlì | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 48,937 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1963
| Bologna–Ferrara–Ravenna–Forlì | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 19,969 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1968
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 47,406 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1972
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 51,203 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1976
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 55,282 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1979
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 52,949 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1983
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 69,632 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1987
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Italian Communist Party}}" | | PCI | 74,273 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1992
| Parma–Modena–Piacenza–Reggio Emilia | bgcolor="{{party color|Democratic Party of the Left}}" | | PDS | 32,077 | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1994
| Marche | bgcolor="{{party color|Democratic Party of the Left}}" | | PDS | –{{efn|name=fn1|Elected in a closed list proportional representation system.}} | {{tick|15}} Elected |
| 1996
| Marche | bgcolor="{{party color|Democratic Party of the Left}}" | | PDS | –{{efn|name=fn1|Elected in a closed list proportional representation system.}} | {{tick|15}} Elected |
{{noteslist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://biblioteca.camera.it/application/xmanager/projects/biblioteca/file/Nilde_Iotti_Rassegna_2a_edizione(A5).pdf Nilde Iotti: rassegna bibliografica]
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{{succession box|title=President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies|before=Pietro Ingrao|after=Oscar Luigi Scalfaro|years=1979–1992}}
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{{President of Italian Chamber of Deputies}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iotti, Nilde}}
Category:20th-century Italian women politicians
Category:Burials at Campo Verano
Category:Candidates for President of Italy
Category:Democratic Party of the Left politicians
Category:Democrats of the Left politicians
Category:Deputies of Legislature I of Italy
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Category:Deputies of Legislature III of Italy
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Category:Deputies of Legislature XI of Italy
Category:Deputies of Legislature XII of Italy
Category:Deputies of Legislature XIII of Italy
Category:European integration pioneers
Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of Italy
Category:Italian anti-fascists
Category:Italian Communist Party politicians
Category:Italian resistance movement members
Category:People from Reggio Emilia
Category:Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies (Italy)
Category:Politicians of Emilia-Romagna
Category:Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore alumni
Category:Women legislative speakers