Enrico De Nicola
| Enrico De Nicola | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st President of Italy | |
| In office 1 July 1946 – 12 May 1948 |
|
| Prime Minister | Alcide De Gasperi |
| Preceded by | Position established Humbert II as King of Italy |
| Succeeded by | Luigi Einaudi |
| Speaker of the Italian Senate | |
| In office 28 April 1951 – 24 June 1952 |
|
| Preceded by | Ivanoe Bonomi |
| Succeeded by | Giuseppe Paratore |
| Speaker of the Italian House | |
| In office 26 June 1920 – 25 January 1924 |
|
| Preceded by | Vittorio Emanuele Orlando |
| Succeeded by | Alfredo Rocco |
| Chairman of the Constitutional Court | |
| In office 23 January 1956 – 26 March 1957 |
|
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Gaetano Azzariti |
| Lifetime Senator | |
| In office 12 May 1948 – 1 October 1959 |
|
| Constituency | Former President |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 November 1877 Naples, Campania, Italy |
| Died | 1 October 1959 (aged 81) Torre del Greco, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Political party | Italian Liberal Party |
| Alma mater | Frederick II University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Enrico De Nicola (Italian pronunciation: [enˈriːko de niˈkɔːla]; 9 November 1877 – 1 October 1959) was an Italian jurist, journalist, politician, and provisional Head of State of the newborn republic of Italy from 1946 to 1948.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Enrico De Nicola was born in Naples and became famous as one of the most esteemed penal lawyers in Italy. As a Liberal he was elected a deputy for the first time in 1909 and, from 1913 to 1921, he filled minor governmental posts until the advent of fascism, when he retired from political life. He served as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies in the Giolitti government (November 1913-March 1914) and Under-Secretary of State for the Treasury in the Orlando cabinet (January–June 1919). On June 26, 1920, he was elected speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, holding office until January 1924. He was appointed senator by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1929, but he refused to take his seat and never took part in the workings of the Assembly.[2]
He returned to his law practice, only taking an interest in politics again after the fall of fascism. After 1943, when fascism ended, De Nicola was perhaps the most influential mediator for the creation of the title "Lieutenant-General of the Realm", by which the king's son Prince Humbert took over most of the functions of the sovereign. Once the monarchy had ended, the Constituent Assembly elected De Nicola Provisional Head of State on 28 June 1946, with 80% of the votes, at the first round of voting. Giulio Andreotti later recalled that De Nicola — mainly because of his unique modesty — was not sure whether to accept the nomination, and underwent frequent changes of mind in the face of repeated importuning by all the major political leaders. Andreotti had then to write to him: "Your Excellency, please, decide to decide if you can accept to accept..."[3]
On 25 June 1947, De Nicola resigned from the post, citing health reasons, but the Constituent Assembly immediately re-elected him again the following day, having recognised in his act signs of nobility and humility. After the Italian Constitution took effect, he was formally named the "President of the Italian Republic" on 1 January 1948. He finally refused to be a candidate for the first constitutional election the following May, in which Luigi Einaudi was elected to the Quirinale.[4]
In 1956, De Nicola became a senator for life as a former Head of State, and later was elected the President of the Senate, and of the Constitutional Court.
He died at Torre del Greco, in the province of Naples, in 1959.
[edit] Honours
- Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
- Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1956)[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Favor, Lesli J. (2004). Italy: a primary source cultural guide. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 36. ISBN 0823938395.
- ^ S.M. Sergio, Elogio dell'Avvocato, Pironti [1] (Italian)Accessed 27 October 2010
- ^ B. Vespa, Storia d'Italia da Mussolini a Berlusconi, p. 32 (Italian)
- ^ Cristina Mascheroni, Enrico De Nicola, Infobergamo (2006) [2] (Italian)Accessed 26 January 2012
- ^ Italian Government website: details of award to De Nicola
[edit] Bibliography
- Andrea Jelardi, Enrico De Nicola. Il presidente galantuomo, Kairòs [3], Naples (2009).(Italian)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New title Humbert II as King of Italy |
President of Italy 1946 – 1948 |
Succeeded by Luigi Einaudi |
| Italian Chamber of Deputies | ||
| Preceded by Luigi Simeoni |
Member of Parliament for Afragola Legislatures: XXIII, XXIV Suffrages: 1291 (57%), 8140 (87%) 1909 – 1919 |
Succeeded by Constituency abolished |
| Preceded by Constituency established |
Member of Parliament for Campania Legislatures: XXV, XXVI 1919 – 1924 |
Succeeded by Title jointly held |
| Preceded by Vittorio Emanuele Orlando |
Speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies 1920 – 1924 |
Succeeded by Alfredo Rocco |
| Italian Senate | ||
| Preceded by Title jointly held |
Italian Royal Senator Legislatures: XXVIII, XXX 1929 – 1943 |
Succeeded by Title jointly held |
| Preceded by None, Senate re-established |
Italian Lifetime Senator Legislatures: I, II, III 1948 – 1959 |
Succeeded by Title jointly held |
| Preceded by Ivanoe Bonomi |
Speaker of the Italian Senate 1951 – 1952 |
Succeeded by Giuseppe Paratore |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by New title |
Chairman of the Italian Constitutional Court 1956 – 1957 |
Succeeded by Gaetano Azzariti |
| City of Naples | ||
| Preceded by Title jointly held |
Municipal Councillor 1907 – 1912 |
Succeeded by Title jointly held |
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