The PES is deeply saddened by the death of Giorgio Napolitano – the longest-serving President of the Republic in Italy and a true believer in the European project. He died in Rome on Friday, aged 98.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“Giorgio Napolitano left a mark on Italian, European, and world politics. A genuine fighter for a world order based on humanity and justice, during his two presidential mandates he managed to lead the Italian nation through a series of crises. A devoted European, whose legacy as a member of the Socialist and Democrats group and chairman of the Constitutional Affairs Committee in the European Parliament is widely acknowledged. He will be missed.”
A beloved figure across the social democratic family in Europe, the late Giorgio Napolitano was an early supporter of European integration on all levels.
During a political career that started in the early 1950s, Napolitano was elected to the Italian and European parliaments, served as Italy’s interior minister and speaker of the lower house of parliament, and became President of the Republic in Italy in 2006 and was elected again for an unprecedented second seven-year term in 2013.
PES Executive Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck added:
“Napolitano was in our European political family among those leaders whose vision laid the foundations of the current unity of the Party of European Socialists. His integrity and rectitude as a stateman is an example for the generations to come. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Giorgio Napolitano.”
