Biography of Ivanoe Bonomi

At the helm of twentieth century Italian politician

18 October 1873 20 April 1951 Ivanoe Bonomi was born in Mantua on 18 October 1873. Teacher, journalist and politician, is a witness and protagonist, in his lifetime of the profound changes that Italy suffers from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Passionate about culture and obtained two degrees in a short time: in 1896 he graduated in natural sciences while, in 1900, in law. While engaged in university studies, Roy for a short period of his life he devoted himself to teaching, activities that abandons in 1898 to deal with journalism. Socialist Party of Italian workers since 1893, where current moderate and reformist, Bonomi joined collaborates with leading leftist magazines like the Next, social commentary, weather and Socialist Action. But the most intense activity in the life of Bonomi is the political one. After election to the City Council of his hometown, a position that follows that at the provincial Council of Mantua, becomes member of the Socialists. With the outbreak of war between Italy and Libya, Bonomi supports the line promoted by Giovanni Giolitti during its fourth Government (1911-1914). Richard, in fact, analyzing the many economic problems prevailing in the Italy of the time, believed that the colonization of Libya would bring new land to be exploited and loosened the Italian immigration to America and European countries richer. This thought though, far from the General line of the party, because the expulsion from the Socialist Party in 1912. Always convinced of his ideas, then the Italian reform Socialist Party in what will be only the first of many splits that the Italian Socialist Party will suffer in the course of its history. With the outbreak of the first world war Bonomi, a volunteer at front, leaning democratic line of interventionism. Between 1916 and 1921 he holds several institutional offices: Minister of public works, Minister of war and Minister of Treasury. The July 4, 1921 is appointed Chairman of the Board. Among the decisions made during his tenure remembers especially to dissolve the body of Sharpshooters, the August 2, 1921, following huge losses occurred during World War I. His Government, proving weak against the initiatives implemented by Benito Mussolini, lasts only seven months until February 26, 1922. In the 1924 election as a candidate participates in alignment of the opposition; the defeat of fascism in Italy claim receipt and make him make the decision to temporarily shelve his passion for politics, devoting himself to historical studies. The political activity of Ivanoe Bonomi, however, is far from over. In 1942, in fact, back on the Italian political scene, playing the role of mediator between the General Pietro Badoglio and the Royal House. Having founded the clandestine newspaper Reconstruction, in 1943 joined the Liberal Party and becomes the President of CLN, the Committee of national liberation was born with the allied landings in Italy and composed of Christian Democrats, shareholders, demolaburisti (from which the labour Democratic Party is founded by the same Bonomi) and Socialists. With the crisis that topples the second Government led by Badoglio, Ivanoe Bonomi is chosen to create a new Government. The result is June 18, 1944 his second Government supported by political parties that belong to very different ideologies and politicians including Alcide De Gasperi, Palmiro Togliatti, Giuseppe Saragat, Giovanni Gronchi and Benedetto Croce. The diverging views of the political parties that make up the Government cause the premature end of the second Government Bonomi; the latter resigns on November 26, 1944. Bonomi is forced to form a new Government. The allies, in fact, focus to carry out quickly the second world war, put a veto on the formation of additional Governments. The last Government he chairs, formed on December 10, 1944, consists of many of the parties and the politicians featured in his second term: Togliatti was appointed Vice-president, Foreign Minister De Gasperi, congers Minister of industry, trade and labor. With the total liberation of Italy by the allies, Bonomi took the decision to resign. Nevertheless, continues to be a central character in Italian politics. After attending the meetings of the constituent Assembly in 1947 and his presence at the peace conference as a delegate of Italy, becomes first President of the Italian Democratic Socialist Party and then President of the National Association of printing. The May 8, 1948, also, he was appointed first President of the Senate of the Italian Republic. After watching the Italy pass from the period of immigration in the early 1900 to fascism, from monarchy to Republic, Ivanoe Bonomi goes off in Rome on April 20, 1951, at the age of 78 years.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.