Francesco De Martino
Encyclopedia
Francesco de Martino was an Italian jurist, politician, lifetime senator
(1991-2002) and former interim Vice President of the Italian Republic. He was considered by many to be the conscience of Italian Socialist Party
.
He graduated from the law school Federico II in Naples
, and, under the guidance of Enrico De Nicola
, embarked on the study of law and economics and became a distinguished scholar of Roman law
.
Emeritus Professor of law at the law school Federico II in Naples, he published several tomes, among which, the History of the Roman Constitution (in six tomes, which was compared for his monumental significance to the "Staatsrecht" by Theodor Mommsen
) and the Economic History of Ancient Rome; his publications were translated in English, Spanish, German, French and Chinese.
He first joined the Action Party (an anti-fascist political party) in 1943, and then joined the reconstituted Socialist party in 1945.
At the first elections of the new Italian Republic in 1948, he was elected to Parliament with the Popular Front alliance of communists and socialists. He soon won the confidence of party leader Pietro Nenni
, to whom he became vice secretary.
When, in 1963, Nenni became deputy prime minister in the first centre-left government of Aldo Moro
, De Martino took over as party secretary.
Vice President of the Italian Republic, he was the PSI's candidate to the Presidential elections in 1971 and 1978. This time, however, the more popular socialist Sandro Pertini was elected. De Martino candidacy was tarnished when the family paid a 1bn lire ransom for his release his son Guido who was kidnapped by the Camorra
. The kidnappers were eventually captured, but those behind them were never discovered.
In 1976, he was ousted as party secretary by Bettino Craxi
when the PSI lost in the elections falling below 10% for the first time. De Martino became the scapegoat, and Craxi became Italy's first socialist prime minister in 1982.
Nonetheless, he continued to be elected to the Parliament, and, in 1992, was appointed senator for life
at which point he joined the post-communist Democrats of the Left
, whom he considered "the true heirs to socialist values". He was dismayed by the demise of the historical socialist party after the corruption under Craxi.
He resumed his academic career at the law school Federico II, where his secular funeral was celebrated in the presence of Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
.
He is survived by his children, Armando, Guido, Antonino, Elisa and Laura.
Senator for life
A senator for life is a member of the senate or equivalent upper chamber of a legislature who has life tenure. , 7 Italian Senators out of 322, 4 out of the 47 Burundian Senators and all members of the British House of Lords have lifetime tenure...
(1991-2002) and former interim Vice President of the Italian Republic. He was considered by many to be the conscience of Italian Socialist Party
Italian Socialist Party
The Italian Socialist Party was a socialist and later social-democratic political party in Italy founded in Genoa in 1892.Once the dominant leftist party in Italy, it was eclipsed in status by the Italian Communist Party following World War II...
.
He graduated from the law school Federico II in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, and, under the guidance of Enrico De Nicola
Enrico De Nicola
Enrico Roberto De Nicola was an Italian jurist, journalist, politician, and the first provisional Head of State of the newborn republic of Italy from 1946 to 1948.-Biography:...
, embarked on the study of law and economics and became a distinguished scholar of Roman law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
.
Emeritus Professor of law at the law school Federico II in Naples, he published several tomes, among which, the History of the Roman Constitution (in six tomes, which was compared for his monumental significance to the "Staatsrecht" by Theodor Mommsen
Theodor Mommsen
Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen was a German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician, archaeologist, and writer generally regarded as the greatest classicist of the 19th century. His work regarding Roman history is still of fundamental importance for contemporary research...
) and the Economic History of Ancient Rome; his publications were translated in English, Spanish, German, French and Chinese.
He first joined the Action Party (an anti-fascist political party) in 1943, and then joined the reconstituted Socialist party in 1945.
At the first elections of the new Italian Republic in 1948, he was elected to Parliament with the Popular Front alliance of communists and socialists. He soon won the confidence of party leader Pietro Nenni
Pietro Nenni
Pietro Sandro Nenni was an Italian socialist politician, the national secretary of the Italian Socialist Party and lifetime Senator since 1970. He was a recipient of the Stalin Peace Prize in 1951...
, to whom he became vice secretary.
When, in 1963, Nenni became deputy prime minister in the first centre-left government of Aldo Moro
Aldo Moro
Aldo Moro was an Italian politician and the 39th Prime Minister of Italy, from 1963 to 1968, and then from 1974 to 1976. He was one of Italy's longest-serving post-war Prime Ministers, holding power for a combined total of more than six years....
, De Martino took over as party secretary.
Vice President of the Italian Republic, he was the PSI's candidate to the Presidential elections in 1971 and 1978. This time, however, the more popular socialist Sandro Pertini was elected. De Martino candidacy was tarnished when the family paid a 1bn lire ransom for his release his son Guido who was kidnapped by the Camorra
Camorra
The Camorra is a Mafia-type criminal organization, or secret society, originating in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century.-Background:...
. The kidnappers were eventually captured, but those behind them were never discovered.
In 1976, he was ousted as party secretary by Bettino Craxi
Bettino Craxi
Benedetto Craxi was an Italian politician, head of the Italian Socialist Party from 1976 to 1993, the first socialist President of the Council of Ministers of Italy from 1983 to 1987.-Political career:...
when the PSI lost in the elections falling below 10% for the first time. De Martino became the scapegoat, and Craxi became Italy's first socialist prime minister in 1982.
Nonetheless, he continued to be elected to the Parliament, and, in 1992, was appointed senator for life
Senator for life
A senator for life is a member of the senate or equivalent upper chamber of a legislature who has life tenure. , 7 Italian Senators out of 322, 4 out of the 47 Burundian Senators and all members of the British House of Lords have lifetime tenure...
at which point he joined the post-communist Democrats of the Left
Democrats of the Left
The Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
, whom he considered "the true heirs to socialist values". He was dismayed by the demise of the historical socialist party after the corruption under Craxi.
He resumed his academic career at the law school Federico II, where his secular funeral was celebrated in the presence of Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
dr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is an Italian politician and banker. He was the 73rd Prime Minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994 and was the tenth President of the Italian Republic from 1999 to 2006...
.
He is survived by his children, Armando, Guido, Antonino, Elisa and Laura.