Leonilde Iotti, commonly known as Nilde Iotti (Italian pronunciation:[ˈnildeˈjɔtti]; 10 April 1920 – 4 December 1999) was an Italian politician, member of the Italian Communist Party (PCI). 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.
Nilde 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. In 1934, her father died, but, thanks to a scholarship, she attended the Catholic University of Milan, graduating in literature in 1942. At the university, she had among her professors, Amintore Fanfani, the future Christian Democratic leader and Prime Minister.[1] On 5 October 1942, Iotti became a member of the National Fascist Party (PNF) within the Federation of Female Fascists of Reggio Emilia, as the fascist membership was a necessary condition to becoming a teacher.[2]
In the same year, Iotti started her relationship with the communist leader, Palmiro Togliatti, who was 27 years older than her, which 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.[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 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.
Iotti was popular and respected as a president, and was confirmed in the office for two more legislatures. In 1987, she was entrusted by PresidentFrancesco 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.[5]
nilde, iotti, leonilde, iotti, commonly, known, italian, pronunciation, ˈnilde, ˈjɔtti, april, 1920, december, 1999, italian, politician, member, italian, communist, party, first, only, woman, member, become, president, chamber, deputies, office, held, three, . Leonilde Iotti commonly known as Nilde Iotti Italian pronunciation ˈnilde ˈjɔtti 10 April 1920 4 December 1999 was an Italian politician member of the Italian Communist Party PCI 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 Nilde IottiPresident of the Chamber of DeputiesIn office 20 June 1979 22 April 1992Preceded byPietro IngraoSucceeded byOscar Luigi ScalfaroMember of the Chamber of DeputiesIn office 8 May 1948 18 November 1999ConstituencyParma 1948 1958 Bologna 1958 1968 Parma 1968 1994 Marche 1994 1999 Member of the Constituent AssemblyIn office 25 June 1946 31 January 1948ConstituencyParmaPersonal detailsBorn 1920 04 10 10 April 1920Reggio Emilia ItalyDied4 December 1999 1999 12 04 aged 79 Rome ItalyPolitical partyPCI 1943 1991 PDS 1991 1998 DS 1998 1999 Domestic partnerPalmiro Togliatti 1946 1964 Alma materUniversita Cattolica del Sacro CuoreProfessionPoliticianTeacherWebsiteNilde Iotti Foundation Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Electoral history 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editNilde 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 In 1934 her father died but thanks to a scholarship she attended the Catholic University of Milan graduating in literature in 1942 At the university she had among her professors Amintore Fanfani the future Christian Democratic leader and Prime Minister 1 On 5 October 1942 Iotti became a member of the National Fascist Party PNF within the Federation of Female Fascists of Reggio Emilia as the fascist membership was a necessary condition to becoming a teacher 2 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 3 Political career edit nbsp Nilde Iotti and Palmiro Togliatti 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 started her relationship with the communist leader Palmiro Togliatti who was 27 years older than her which 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 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 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 5 In 1992 Iotti s name was put forward for the election for President of the Italian Republic Personal life editShe was an atheist 6 Death editShe died in Rome on 4 December 1999 and she is buried in the Cimitero del Verano Electoral history editElection House Constituency Party Votes Result 1946 Constituent Assembly Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 15 936 nbsp Y Elected 1948 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 51 340 nbsp Y Elected 1953 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 33 480 nbsp Y Elected 1958 Chamber of Deputies Bologna Ferrara Ravenna Forli PCI 48 937 nbsp Y Elected 1963 Chamber of Deputies Bologna Ferrara Ravenna Forli PCI 19 969 nbsp Y Elected 1968 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 47 406 nbsp Y Elected 1972 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 51 203 nbsp Y Elected 1976 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 55 282 nbsp Y Elected 1979 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 52 949 nbsp Y Elected 1983 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 69 632 nbsp Y Elected 1987 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PCI 74 273 nbsp Y Elected 1992 Chamber of Deputies Parma Modena Piacenza Reggio Emilia PDS 32 077 nbsp Y Elected 1994 Chamber of Deputies Marche PDS a nbsp Y Elected 1996 Chamber of Deputies Marche PDS a nbsp Y Elected a b Elected in a closed list proportional representation system References edit Camera dei Deputati Nilde Iotti Nilde Iotti e la tessera del Partito Nazionale Fascista Archived from the original on 2019 01 03 Retrieved 2019 12 10 Miriam Mafai Ma chi e quella signora Sei morti e cinquanta feriti Obituary Nilde Iotti The Independent 23 October 2011 Archived from the original on 2022 06 21 Biography at Fondazione Nilde Iotti Archived from the original on 2012 10 23 Retrieved 2012 01 13 External links editNilde Iotti rassegna bibliografica Political offices Preceded byPietro Ingrao President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies1979 1992 Succeeded byOscar Luigi Scalfaro Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nilde Iotti amp oldid 1176724544, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
