Biography of Francesco Cossiga

Secrets and picks

July 26, 1928
August 17, 2010
Francesco Cossiga was born on July 26, 1928 in Sassari. It is without doubt one of the oldest and most prestigious Italian politicians. His is a career that seems to not close ever. A child prodigy of the Christian Democrats after the war, he covered all government posts as possible, by the Ministry of the Interior, to the Prime Minister, to the Presidency of the Republic. The young Francis wastes no time: follows the maturity at sixteen, four years after graduating. At seventeen is already subscribed to Dc. In 28 provincial Secretary. Two years later, in 1958, enters a Montecitorio.
She is the youngest Secretary of Defense in the third Government led by Aldo Moro; He is the youngest Minister of Home Affairs (until then) in 1976 to 48 years; He is the youngest President of the Council (until then) in 1979 at 51; the youngest Senate President in 1983 to 51 years old and the youngest President of the Republic in 1985 to 57 years. Francesco Cossiga passed unscathed through the fire of fierce controversy of so-called "years of lead". In the years ' 70 is identified by the extreme left as the number one enemy: the name "Kriegsführung", is written on the walls with a "K" and the two Runic them of the Nazi Ss. The kidnapping of Aldo Moro (16 March-9 May 1978) is the most difficult moment of his career.
The failure of the investigations and the killing of Moro forced him to resign. About 55 days of the seizure, the controversy and accusations to Cossiga seem to never end. There are those who accuse Cossiga of inefficiency; others suspect that the "emergency plan" drawn up by the hostage liberation aimed not Cossiga. The allegations are very heavy and for years we always firm and tenacious defending Cossiga, as his character. Public opinion is largely rooted in the belief that it is among the depositaries of many Italian mysteries of the years of terrorism. In an interview with Cossiga said: "If I have white hair and stains on leather for that matter. Because while we kill Moro, I had no idea. " Chairman of the Board in 1979, is accused of aiding against the terrorist "front line" Marco Donat Cattin, Dc politician's son Charles.
The charges will be declared unfounded by the Committee of inquiry. His Government falls in 1980, shot by "snipers" Dc who rejected his "Decretone" that would bless the deal Nissan and Alfa Romeo. By one vote Cossiga falls and with him the understanding. A newspaper headline ironic: "Fiat voluntas tua", alluding to the satisfaction of the automotive industry in Turin for the missed landing in Italy of the Japanese. For a few years in the shadows, undermined by Dc Francesco Cossiga remains the "preamble" terminating any possibility of agreement with Pci. In 1985 Cossiga was elected President of the Italian Republic with a majority record: 752 votes out of 977 voters. For him, Dc, Psi, Psdi, Pli, Pri Pci, and independent left. For five years he serves as "President notary", discrete and fussily to abide to the Constitution. In 1990 lifestyle changes. Becomes the "pick hammer", attack MSM (the Higher Council of the judiciary), the Constitutional Court and the party system.
He does, he says, to "take pebbles from shoes". Cossiga urges a major reform of the State and he picks on individual politicians. There are those who come to give him the fool: he answers to "do it, not of it. It's different". In 1990, when Giulio Andreotti reveals the existence of "Gladio", Cossiga attacks practically everyone, especially the Dc from which feels "downloaded". The Pds will start the procedure of impeachment. Waits for the elections of 1992 and then resigns with a televised speech by 45 minutes. Voluntary exits: all system critique and prosecution for two years, will fall apart a few months later. Surprise reappears in the fall of 1998, when the crisis of the Prodi government. He founded the Udeur (Democratic Union for Europe) and gives a crucial support to the creation of the Government of Massimo D'Alema. The Idyll does not last long. After less than a year leaves the Udeur and back to do the Cossiga "free hitter" by the Upr (Union for the Republic). In the general elections of 2001 gives support to Silvio Berlusconi, however, in the Senate, will not be voting trust. Francesco Cossiga died on August 17, 2010.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.