Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

(1908–99), Prime Minister of Italy (1954, 1958–9, 1960–3, 1982–3, 1987), and President of the General Assembly of the united nations (1965–6). A devout Catholic, Fanfani taught at Milan's Catolicca University (1936–55), but became increasingly drawn into politics. At the end of World War II he emerged as a leading figure in the movement of christian democracy , and entered the Constituent Assembly in 1947. Remembered for his abilities to spring back from disappointment, he registered his main political triumph in 1962 by managing to bring the Socialists into government, thus creating a pattern of coalition politics that enabled the Christian Democrats to remain in power until the corruption scandals of the 1990s. Unlike many of his colleagues, Fanfani remained untainted. Yet he never enjoyed much popularity, despite his reforms of agriculture and introduction of low-cost housing. It was his own party that prevented him from becoming Italy's head of state, though he did serve as interim president in the summer of 1978. ... log in or subscribe to read full text