Franco Marini

Franco Marini
President of the Senate of the Republic
In office 29 April 2006 – 28 April 2008
Preceded by	Marcello Pera
Succeeded by	Renato Schifani
Minister of Labour and Social Security
In office 12 April 1991 – 28 June 1992
Prime Minister	Giulio Andreotti
Preceded by	Rosa Russo Iervolino
Succeeded by	Nino Cristofori
Secretary of theItalian People's Party
In office January 1997 – October 1999
Preceded by	Gerardo Bianco
Succeeded by	Pierluigi Castagnetti
Secretary-General of theItalian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions
In office 6 February 1985 – 13 March 1991
Preceded by	Pierre Carniti
Succeeded by	Sergio D'Antoni
Member of theSenate
In office 28 April 2006 – 15 March 2013
Constituency	Abruzzo
Member of theChamber of Deputies
In office 23 January 1992 – 27 April 2006
Constituency	Abruzzo
Personal details
Born	(1933-04-09)9 April 1933 San Pio delle Camere,Kingdom of Italy
Died	9 February 2021 (aged 87) Rome,Italy
Political party	PD(since 2007)
Other political affiliations	DC(1950–1994) PPI(1994–2002) The Daisy(2002–2007)
Profession	Trade unionist Politician

Franco Marini(9 April 1933 – 9 February 2021)was an Italian politician and a prominent member of the centre-leftDemocratic Party.From 2006 to 2008, he was the president of theSenate.

Biography

Trade unionist

Marini was born inSan Pio delle Camere,in theProvince of L'Aquila(Abruzzo). A law graduate andtrade unionist,Marini joined theChristian Democracyparty in 1950 and was elected leader of theItalian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions(CISL) trade union in 1985. He left CISL in 1991 in order to become the Minister of Labour in the government ofGiulio Andreotti.

A candidate in the1992 Italian general electionfor Christian Democracy, he was to emerge as the most voted candidate in the country for the leading Italian party at the time. In 1997 Marini was appointed leader of theItalian People's Party,heir of the disbanded Christian Democracy, but he left the position in 1999 because of the party's poor electoral performance in the1999 European election.After the Italian People's Party became part ofDemocracy is Freedom – The Daisy,he became the organizational secretary for the newly founded party.

President of the Senate

After the centre-leftUnionvictory in the2006 Italian general election,Marini was elected asPresident of the Senateafter three votes; he defeatedGiulio Andreotti,the candidate of theHouse of Freedomsand his former party fellow during the Christian Democracy times, by 165 votes to 156, and succeededMarcello Pera.

On 30 January 2008, PresidentGiorgio Napolitanosummoned Marini to theQuirinaleafter having met with the different political parties following the vote of no confidence received by theProdi II Cabinetand the2008 Italian political crisisit caused. He asked Marini to attempt to form an interim government, which would work to reform electoral laws prior to a new election.Marini decided that his task was impossible on 4 February, after meeting with right-wing leadersSilvio BerlusconiandGianfranco Fini,because he "could not find a significant majority on a precise electoral reform". Napolitano therefore dissolved Parliament and anearly electionwas called for April 2008.Marini was re-elected to theSenatein that election.

Senator for theDemocratic Party,Franco Marini was not re-elected in theFebruary 2013 general election;his term as Senator expired on 15 March 2013.

Candidate for the Presidency of Italy

On 17 April 2013, theDemocratic Party(center-left), thePeople of Freedom(center right) andCivic Choice(center) designated Franco Marini as candidate for thepresidential election.He failed to win the necessary two-thirds majority in the first round of voting.

Death

He died in 2021 at the age of 87, a victim ofCOVID-19during theCOVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

External links

• Media related toFranco Marini (politician)at Wikimedia Commons