Milan, 19 May (LaPresse) – “Marco Pannella was a political figure who left his mark on the history of the Republic. In remembering him ten years after his passing, the impact of his battles is clear: often fought from a minority position, yet capable of sparking innovation and reform. Pannella was a maverick leader, unconventional and yet not unexpected. A proponent of a radical interpretation of liberal thought, he drew on a long history of leadership among Italian university students.” So said the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Marco Pannella’s passing. “He brought his criticism and his ideas to the forefront of public debate, even through unprecedented methods, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Gandhi: hunger and thirst strikes, acts of civil disobedience, and non-violent protests, thus paving the way for new forms of expression and participation. As one of the founders and later leader of the Radical Party, and a member of both the Italian and European parliaments on several occasions, he enlivened the Chamber of Deputies with memorable marathon speeches aimed at highlighting the urgency of issues that were not on the agenda at the time,” he added. “Pannella,” emphasised the Head of State, “linked his name to referendum campaigns that marked turning points in social life, using popular referendums as a lever for political action. The issue of civil rights, as an extension of constitutional freedoms, formed the thread that over time bound together his many experiences and alliances. The Radical leader was a man of dialogue, as in the case of the decisions that led to extraordinary interventions by the Republic to combat world hunger, as well as a key figure in delicate moments in the life of the institutions. A tenacious and committed Europeanist, a consistent supporter of the rule of law, an unyielding opponent of the death penalty, and a defender of the dignity of prisoners, he leaves a legacy that holds value even for those who did not share all his battles.”
Pannella, Mattarella: ‘A maverick leader who left his mark on the history of the Republic’
Milan, 19 May (LaPresse) – “Marco Pannella was a political figure who left his mark on the history of the Republic. In remembering him ten years after his passing, the impact of his battles is clear: often fought from a minority position, yet capable of sparking innovation and reform. Pannella was a maverick leader, unconventional and yet not unexpected. A proponent of a radical interpretation of liberal thought, he drew on a long history of leadership among Italian university students.” So said the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Marco Pannella’s passing. “He brought his criticism and his ideas to the forefront of public debate, even through unprecedented methods, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Gandhi: hunger and thirst strikes, acts of civil disobedience, and non-violent protests, thus paving the way for new forms of expression and participation. As one of the founders and later leader of the Radical Party, and a member of both the Italian and European parliaments on several occasions, he enlivened the Chamber of Deputies with memorable marathon speeches aimed at highlighting the urgency of issues that were not on the agenda at the time,” he added. “Pannella,” emphasised the Head of State, “linked his name to referendum campaigns that marked turning points in social life, using popular referendums as a lever for political action. The issue of civil rights, as an extension of constitutional freedoms, formed the thread that over time bound together his many experiences and alliances. The Radical leader was a man of dialogue, as in the case of the decisions that led to extraordinary interventions by the Republic to combat world hunger, as well as a key figure in delicate moments in the life of the institutions. A tenacious and committed Europeanist, a consistent supporter of the rule of law, an unyielding opponent of the death penalty, and a defender of the dignity of prisoners, he leaves a legacy that holds value even for those who did not share all his battles.”
