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Bettino Craxi

Bettino Craxi
Bettino Craxi Official.jpg
45th Prime Minister of Italy
In office
4 August 1983 – 17 April 1987
President Alessandro Pertini
Francesco Cossiga
Preceded by Amintore Fanfani
Succeeded by Amintore Fanfani
Secretary of the Italian Socialist Party
In office
15 July 1976 – 11 February 1993
Preceded by Francesco De Martino
Succeeded by Giorgio Benvenuto
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
5 June 1968 – 1 July 1987
Constituency Milan (1968–83; 1992–94)
Naples (1983–92)
Personal details
Born Benedetto Craxi
(1934-02-24)24 February 1934
Milan, Italy
Died 19 January 2000(2000-01-19) (aged 65)
Hammamet, Tunisia
Political party Italian Socialist Party
Spouse(s) Anna Maria Moncini (m. 1959; d. 2000)
Children Bobo Craxi
Stefania Craxi
Religion Roman Catholicism
Signature

Benedetto "Bettino" Craxi (Italian: [betˈtiːno ˈkraksi]; 24 February 1934 – 19 January 2000) was an Italian politician, leader of the Italian Socialist Party from 1976 to 1993 and Prime Minister of Italy from 1983 to 1987. He was the first member of the PSI to hold the office and the third Prime Minister from a socialist party. He led the third-longest government in the Italian Republic, and he is considered one of the most powerful and prominent politicians of the so-called First Republic.

Craxi was involved in investigations conducted by Mani Pulite judges in Milan, eventually being convicted for corruption and illicit financing of the Socialist Party. He always rejected the charges of corruption, while admitting to the illegal funding which permitted costly political activity, the PSI being less financially powerful than the two larger parties, Christian Democracy and the Communists. Craxi's govermment and party were also supported by future Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a media magnate and personal friend of Craxi.

Bettino Craxi maintained strong links with many leaders of the European left, including Felipe González and Mario Soares and was one of the main representatives of "Mediterranean socialism".

Bettino Craxi was born in Milan on 24 February 1934. His father, Vittorio Craxi, was a Sicilian lawyer and anti-fascist who was persecuted by the regime of Benito Mussolini; his mother, Maria Ferrari, was a housewife from Sant'Angelo Lodigiano.


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