Giovanni Leone

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Giovanni Leone
Giovanni Leone


In office
December 29, 1971 – June 15, 1978
Prime Minister Emilio Colombo
Giulio Andreotti
Mariano Rumor
Aldo Moro
Giulio Andreotti
Preceded by Giuseppe Saragat
Succeeded by Amintore Fanfani acting
Alessandro Pertini

In office
June 24, 1968 – December 12, 1968
President Giuseppe Saragat
Preceded by Aldo Moro
Succeeded by Mariano Rumor
In office
June 21, 1963 – December 4, 1963
President Antonio Segni
Preceded by Amintore Fanfani
Succeeded by Aldo Moro

In office
May 10, 1955 – June 21, 1963
Preceded by Giovanni Gronchi
Succeeded by Brunetto Bucciarelli-Ducci

In office
June 15, 1978 – November 9, 2001
Constituency New Constituency

Born 3 November 1908(1908-11-03)
Naples, Italy
Died 9 November 2001 (aged 93)
Rome, Italy
Nationality Italian
Political party Christian Democracy
Spouse Vittoria Micchitto
Religion Roman Catholic

Giovanni Leone (November 3, 1908November 9, 2001) was an Italian politician. He was Prime Minister of Italy from June 21, 1963 to November 5, 1963 and again from June 24, 1968 to November 19, 1968. He also served as President of the Republic from 1971 to 1978.

[edit] Biography

Leone was born in Naples.

He graduated in law in 1929. His father was one of the founders of Democrazia Cristiana in his native city, and he was elected to the Italian Constituent Assembly in 1946. A member of the right wing faction of his party, he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 1948, being confirmed until 1963. In 1955-1963 he was also President of the Chamber, from which he resigned for a brief stint as Premier.

After having been unofficially several times candidate to the Presidency of the Republic, he was named Life Senator in 1968. In the same year he was again Premier for some months. In 1971 he succeeded Giuseppe Saragat as President of Italy, being elected with votes of a right-centre majority of the Parliament (518 out of 996 votes, including those of the post-fascist Italian Social Movement).

He became embroiled in controversy when, as President of Republic, visiting his native city during an outbreak of cholera, shook the hands of the patients with one hand, and with the other, behind the back, made the corna. This act was well documented, as all journalists and photographers were right behind him. The gesture was interpreted as offensive for the patients.

He was forced to resign from his position following his involvement in the Lockheed bribery scandal[1] on 15 June 1978.

[edit] References

Political offices
Preceded by
Giovanni Gronchi
President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies
1955-1963
Succeeded by
Brunetto Bucciarelli-Ducci
Preceded by
Amintore Fanfani
Prime Minister of Italy
1963
Succeeded by
Aldo Moro
Preceded by
Aldo Moro
Prime Minister of Italy
1968
Succeeded by
Mariano Rumor
Preceded by
Giuseppe Saragat
President of the Italian Republic
1971–1978
Succeeded by
Sandro Pertini