Former President Francesco Cossiga, one of Italy’s most prominent Christian Democrat leaders, died today.
He was 82.
Cossiga served as interior minister in the 1970s, resigning after he failed to save the life of kidnapped Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978.
He was president from 1985-1992.
He performed the role quietly for five years before launching a juggernaut for reform, slamming political machinations in such harsh terms that he earned the nickname “Il Picconatore” (The Pickaxe-Wielder).
He automatically became a life senator.
In November 2006 he resigned from his position, it was however rejected by a vote of the Senate.