Bettino Craxi
66th Prime Minister of Italy
In office 4 August 1983 – 17 April 1987
President	Alessandro Pertini Francesco Cossiga
Deputy	Arnaldo Forlani
Preceded by	Amintore Fanfani
Succeeded by	Amintore Fanfani
Born	February 24, 1934(1934-02-24) Milan, Italy
Died	January 19, 2000 (aged 65) Hammamet, Tunisia
Nationality	Italian
Political party	Italian Socialist Party

Benedetto (Bettino) Craxi (February 24, 1934 – January 19, 2000) was an Italian politician, head of the Italian Socialist Party from 1976 to 1993, the first socialist President of the Council of Ministers of Italy from 1983 to 1987. Image File history File links Craxi_coins. ... In Italy, the President of the Council of Ministers (Italian: Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri) is the countrys prime minister or head of government, and occupies the fourth-most important state office. ... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Alessandro (Sandro) Pertini (September 25, 1896 - February 24, Italian politician. ... Francesco Cossiga (born July 26, 1928) is an Italian politician and former President of the Italian Republic. ... Arnaldo Forlani (born December 8, 1925) is an Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister of Italy from October 18, 1980 through May 26, 1981. ... Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Milano-Stemma. ... Type Anti-tank Nationality Joint France/Germany Era Cold War, modern Launch platform Individual, Vehicle Target Vehicle, Fortification History Builder MBDA, Bharat Dynamics (under license) Date of design 70s Production period since 1972 Service duration since 1972 Operators 41 countries Variants MILAN 1, MILAN 2, MILAN 2T, MILAN 3, MILAN... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ... Medina of Hammamet at night Hammamet (Arabic: ‎, ) is a town in Tunisia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In Italy, the President of the Council of Ministers (Italian: Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri) is the countrys prime minister or head of government, and occupies the fourth-most important state office. ...

Political ascension

He is the second longest-serving Prime Minister in Italy since 1945, after Silvio Berlusconi, and had strong influence in Italian politics throughout the eighties; for some time, he was a close ally of two key figures of Democrazia Cristiana, Giulio Andreotti and Arnaldo Forlani, in a loose cross-party alliance often dubbed CAF. Craxi had a firm grasp on a party previously troubled by factionalism, and tried to distance it from the communists bringing it closer to Christian Democrats and other parties; his objective was to create an Italian version of Socialist parties, like the German SPD or the French Socialist Party. The party reached its apex when it increased its share of votes in the general election of 1983, after temporarily abandoning its coalition with the Christian Democrats. However, the Italian Socialist Party never outgrew the much larger Italian Communist Party, whose highly charismatic leader, Enrico Berlinguer, was a fierce adversary of Craxi's policies throughout the years. A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ...   (born September 29, 1936) is an Italian politician, entrepreneur, and media proprietor. ... Millennia: 1st millennium - 2nd millennium - 3rd millennium Events and trends Computers, technology Bulletin board system popularity Popularization of personal computers, Walkmans, VHS videocassette recorders, and compact disc (CD) players Home video games become enormously popular, most notably Atari until the market crashes in 1983; the rise of Nintendo brings about... Christian Democracy, (Democrazia Cristiana), the christian democratic party of Italy, commonly called the democristiani or DC, dominated government for nearly half a century until its demise amid a welter of corruption allegations in 1992-94. ... Giulio Andreotti (born 14 January 1919 in Rome) is an Italian politician who served seven times as Prime Minister of Italy. ... Arnaldo Forlani (born December 8, 1925) is an Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister of Italy from October 18, 1980 through May 26, 1981. ... Christian Democracy, (Democrazia Cristiana), the christian democratic party of Italy, commonly called the democristiani or DC, dominated government for nearly half a century until its demise amid a welter of corruption allegations in 1992-94. ... SPD redirects here. ... The emblem of the French Socialist Party The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste or PS), founded in 1969, is the main opposition party in France. ... The Partito Comunista Italiano (PCI) or Italian Communist Party emerged as Partito Comunista dItalia or Communist Party of Italy from a secession by the Leninist comunisti puri tendency from the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) during that bodys congress on 21 January 1921 at Livorno. ... Enrico Berlinguer. ...

The main dynamic of Italian post-war politics was to find a way to keep the PCI (Partito Comunista Italiano) out of power. This led to the constant formation of political alliances between parties keen on keeping the Communists at bay. Things were further complicated by the fact that many parties had internal currents that would have welcomed the Communists in the government coalition; in particular, within the DC, Democrazia Cristiana (Christian Democrats), the largest party in Italy from 1945 to end of the "Prima Repubblica". The Partito Comunista Italiano (PCI) or Italian Communist Party emerged as Partito Comunista dItalia or Communist Party of Italy from a secession by the Leninist comunisti puri tendency from the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) during that bodys congress on 21 January 1921 at Livorno. ... The Fourth Estate The Partito Comunista Italiano (PCI) or Italian Communist Party emerged as Partito Comunista dItalia or Communist Party of Italy from a secession by the Leninist comunisti puri tendency from the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) during that bodys congress on 21 January 1921 at Livorno. ... This article is about communism as a form of society, as an ideology advocating that form of society, and as a popular movement. ... Christian Democracy, (Democrazia Cristiana), the christian democratic party of Italy, commonly called the democristiani or DC, dominated government for nearly half a century until its demise amid a welter of corruption allegations in 1992-94. ... Christian Democracy is a political ideology, born at the end of the 19th century, largely as a result of the papal encyclical Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII, in which the Vatican recognizes workers misery and agrees that something should be done about it, in reaction to the rise of...

A native of Milan, Craxi was precocious and ascended to many levels public office at very early ages. In the international arena, he helped dissidents and Socialist Parties throughout the world organise and become independent. Notable recipients of his logistical help are the PSOE "Partido Socialista Obrero Español" during Francisco Franco's dictatorship, and dramaturg Jiri Pelikan, in the then Czechoslovakia. A rare footage of Craxi trying to lay flowers at the tomb of Salvador Allende has been unearthed from RAI's (RAdiotelevisione Italiana) archives. There is also proof that part of Craxi's illegally earned money were given in secret to leftist political opposition in Uruguay during the military dictatorship, to Solidarnosc in the period of Jaruzelski rule in Poland and to Arafat and his organization (PLO) because of Craxi's sympathy for the Palestinian cause. Type Anti-tank Nationality Joint France/Germany Era Cold War, modern Launch platform Individual, Vehicle Target Vehicle, Fortification History Builder MBDA, Bharat Dynamics (under license) Date of design 70s Production period since 1972 Service duration since 1972 Operators 41 countries Variants MILAN 1, MILAN 2, MILAN 2T, MILAN 3, MILAN... The Spanish Socialist Workers Party (Partido Socialista Obrero Español or PSOE) is one of the main parties of Spain. ... “Franco” redirects here. ... Salvador Isabelino Allende Gossens[1] (July 26, 1908 – September 11, 1973) was President of Chile from November 1970 until his death during the coup détat of September 11, 1973. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

On July 16, 1976, Bettino Craxi was elected to the vacant secretary’s position, following years of factional fighting within his party. Ironically, the "old guard" saw him as short-lived leader, allowing each faction time to regroup. However, he was able to hold on to power and implement his policies. In particular, he sought and manage to distance his Party away from the communists bringing it closer to Christian Democrats and other center and center-right parties. is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about communism as a form of society, as an ideology advocating that form of society, and as a popular movement. ... Christian Democracy, (Democrazia Cristiana), the christian democratic party of Italy, commonly called the democristiani or DC, dominated government for nearly half a century until its demise amid a welter of corruption allegations in 1992-94. ...

During Craxi's tenure as prime minister Italy became the fifth largest industrial nation and gained entry into the G-7 Group of most Industrialised nations. Inflation was however often in the two-digits, and this was dealt with eliminating a wage-price increase link known as scala mobile ("escalator"); under this system, wages were increased automatically depending on inflation. Abolishing the system did reduce inflation, but inevitably increased strikes in the long term, as workers had to barter for better salaries. In any case, the victory of the "No" front in the referendum called by the Italian Communist Party was also a major victory for Craxi. Italian national debt skyrocketed during the Craxi era, passing 100% of the gross national product. The level of the Italian national debt is still well over 100% of the GDP. 1983 G-7 Economic Summit in Williamsburg, Virginia (left to right) Pierre Trudeau, Gaston Thorn, Helmut Kohl, François Mitterrand, Ronald Reagan, Yasuhiro Nakasone, Margaret Thatcher, Amintore Fanfani. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... The Partito Comunista Italiano (PCI) or Italian Communist Party emerged as Partito Comunista dItalia or Communist Party of Italy from a secession by the Leninist comunisti puri tendency from the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) during that bodys congress on 21 January 1921 at Livorno. ... Government debt (public debt, national debt) is money owed by government, at any level (central government, federal government, national government, municipal government, local government, regional government). ... Measures of national income and output are used in economics to estimate the value of goods and services produced in an economy. ...

The Sigonella Incident

The Achille Lauro.

Internationally, Craxi is perhaps best remembered for an incident in October 1985, when he refused the request by US President Ronald Reagan to extradite the hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro. The hijackers, after protracted negotiations, were given safe passage to Egypt by plane. Three United States Navy F-14's forced the plane down to the United States Naval Air Facility (NAF) of Sigonella. According the version of political circles in Washington, Craxi first gave the United States Forces permission to detain the terrorists, but he later reneged on the deal. He ordered Italian troops to surround the US Forces protecting the plane. This move was supposedly dictated both by security concerns about terrorists targeting Italy if the United States had had it their way, and by the Italian tradition of diplomacy with the Arab world. Craxi's decisive character may have been relevant in this resolution. Though the Americans demanded that the Italian authorities extradite Abu Abbas of the PLO, Craxi stood firm on the grounds that the Italian Government had jurisdiction over its own territory, even though it was a joint Italian-NATO base. Craxi rejected the US extradition order and let Abu Abbas - chief of the hijackers, present on the plane - flee to Yugoslavia; the four hijackers were later found guilty, and sentenced to prison terms (in USA supposed to be relatively light, above all for the juvenile offender present between them) for hijacking and murder of an American citizen, Leon Klinghoffer. Also Abbas was later convicted in Italy in absentia, and eventually died, officially from natural cause, shortly after being taken prisoner by American forces in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This episode earned Craxi an article in The Economist titled "Europe's strong man" and more tellingly, a standing ovation in the Senate, which included his communist opponents. Image File history File links Achille Lauro (her funnel logo has changed to that of Star Lauro (an L with a star next to it) Recorded around December 1989 by D. R. Walker File links The following pages link to this file: Achille Lauro ... Image File history File links Achille Lauro (her funnel logo has changed to that of Star Lauro (an L with a star next to it) Recorded around December 1989 by D. R. Walker File links The following pages link to this file: Achille Lauro ... Reagan redirects here. ... The Willem Ruys The Achille Lauro The Achille Lauro, formerly the Willem Ruys, was a passenger liner. ... USN redirects here. ... Sailors prepare an F-14 Tomcat for flight on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). ... Naval Air Station Sigonella, the Hub of the Med, is a U.S. Navy installation at an Italian Air Force base in Sicily, Italy. ... Terrorist redirects here. ... This article is about negotiations. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... Muhammad Zaidan (also known as Abu Abbas and Muhammad Abbas) (December 10, 1948 – March 8, 2004) was a Palestinian terrorist. ... The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic: ;   or Munazzamat al-Tahrir al-Filastiniyyah) is a multi-party confederation and is the organization regarded since 1974 as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... Extradition is the official process by which one nation or state requests and obtains from another nation or state the surrender of a suspected or convicted criminal. ... Muhammad Zaidan (also known as Abu Abbas and Muhammad Abbas) (December 10, 1948 – March 8, 2004) was a Palestinian terrorist. ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in the Latin alphabet, Југославија in Cyrillic; English: South Slavia, or literary The Land of South Slavs) describes three political entities that existed one at a time on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century. ... Leon Klinghoffer (September 24, 1916 – October 8, 1985) was a retired appliance manufacturer from New York who was disabled (from a stroke) and used a wheelchair for mobility. ... For in absentia medical care, see Health care delivery. ... This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd and edited in London. ... Palazzo Madama house of the Senate of the Republic. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

Mani Pulite

The last main turning point of his career began taking place in the early 1990s. In February 1992, the Socialist Mario Chiesa got caught by the police while taking 7 million lira bribes from a cleaning service. Mario Chiesa sought Craxi's protection for nearly a month; but Craxi accused him of casting a shadow on the most honest party in Italy. Mani pulite (Italian for clean hands) was a nationwide Italian police investigation into political corruption held in the 1990s, following the scandal of Banco Ambrosiano in 1982, which implicated mafia, Vatican Bank and P2. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... Mario Chiesa was an Italian politician and member of the Italian Socialist Party. ...

Feeling left out and denied compassion, Chiesa agreed to tell everything he knew. His declarations brought half of Milan (Socialists and Industrialists) under accusation. As a consequence, a team of Milanese judges began investigating the affairs of party financing; Milan was then stronghold of the Italian Socialist Party, and for some time Craxi's own brother-in-law, Paolo Pillitteri, the mayor of the city, was brought under accusation (although he had immunity as a member of Parliament). Type Anti-tank Nationality Joint France/Germany Era Cold War, modern Launch platform Individual, Vehicle Target Vehicle, Fortification History Builder MBDA, Bharat Dynamics (under license) Date of design 70s Production period since 1972 Service duration since 1972 Operators 41 countries Variants MILAN 1, MILAN 2, MILAN 2T, MILAN 3, MILAN... Socialism is any economic system in which the means of production are owned and controlled collectively or a political philosophy advocating such a system. ... Industrialist mainly refers to a person who takes a leading or visionary role in the process of building up an industry over a long time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

In July 1992, Craxi finally recognized the situation and what it was leading to. He made an appeal in front of the Chamber of Deputies in which he told his fellow deputies that everyone knew of irreguralities in the public financing of the parties and accused them (the deputies) of hypocrisy and cowardice. However, his speech remained unheard. Although Craxi took 5 months to realize the dangerous situation, some important deputies and heads of parties took even longer and by the time they knew, everything was undone and they were wiped off the political map. Chamber of Deputies is the name given to a legislative body, which may either be the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or the name of a unicameral one. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ...

Even Craxi was to receive the first of many 'Avvisi Di Garanzia' in December 1992. Many more followed during January and February until the Court of Milan explicitly asked Parliament the authorisation to proceed with the investigations (In Italy, members of Parliament are immune to prosecution unless the Parliament gives its authorisation). The authorisation was denied on 29 April 1993 after Craxi gave an emotional speech [1]. However, the day wasn't finished. He returned to his Roman residence at the Hotel Raphael where he isolated himself; on going out he was met by enormous crowd which chucked coins at him shouting "do you want these as well". This moment was remembered with agony, anger and scandal within the Italian political class. is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ...

The incident inevitably marked a turning point; nothing would be the same. In the regional elections of 1993 Lombardy passed to Northern League leadership after 16 years of socialist rule. In some regions, the PSI vote was under 4%. However, the disasters didn't stop there. For the village of the same name in Ontario, Canada, see Lombardy, Ontario. ... The Lega Nord (Northern League, LN), whose complete name is Lega Nord for the Independence of Padania, is an Italian political party founded in 1991 as a federation of several regional parties in northern Italy, most of which had arisen, and all of which had expanded their share of the... A region can be any area that has some unifying feature. ...

Facing the judges

In December 1993, after finally allowing himself to be investigated, Craxi was called to testify in front of Antonio Di Pietro, the magistrate who had provoked what Craxi defined as a "false Revolution". At his side sat the secretary of the DC (Democrazia Cristiana, Italy's biggest party), Arnaldo Forlani. Questions were asked about the maxi-bribe ENIMONT which PSI and DC had received. In answering, Arnaldo Forlani made the biggest mistake in his life, simply saying "what is a bribe?". On the other hand, Craxi defended himself in a curious way: ignoring the overall value of the rule of law, he accused himself, as well as many other parties, breaking the law on funding of political parties, defining the money taken in this way as "the cost of politics". Antonio di Pietro Antonio Di Pietro (born Montenero di Bisaccia, Italy, October 2, 1950) is an Italian Senator and was a magistrate in the team of the so-called Mani Pulite. Born to a poor rural family of Molise, very young he went Germany to work as a waiter in... Arnaldo Forlani (born December 8, 1925) is an Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister of Italy from October 18, 1980 through May 26, 1981. ... Bribery is the practice of offering a professional money or other favours in order to circumvent ethics in a variety of professions. ... Arnaldo Forlani (born December 8, 1925) is an Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister of Italy from October 18, 1980 through May 26, 1981. ...

During the time of the ENIMONT affair, Craxi declared that in a country where justice always ran slow, his case was moving at extraordinary speed (which it in fact did). His answer to all charges concerning Tangentopoli (bribes) was that he had been singled out for illegalities which he wasn't the only one to commit. This article is about the concept of justice. ... Bettino Craxi, viewed by many as the symbol of Tangentopoli, leader of the Italian Socialist Party, is greeted by a salvo of coins as a sign of loathing by protesters contesting him. ...

In May 1994 he fled to Tunis to escape jail. His political career ended in less than 2 years; Italy's entire political class, incliding people like Andreotti and Forlani, was to follow suit.

Surprisingly, CAF (the Craxi-Andreotti-Forlani axis), which had made a pact to revive the Pentapartito of the 1980s and apply it to the 1990s, was doomed to be crushed by popular vote as well as by the judges. This initiative came to be called Mani pulite (clean hands). No party was spared, but in some parties corruption had become more common than elsewhere (either because of more opportunity or because of internal culture). To this day, some people (especially those who were close to Craxi) argue that some parties (such as the Italian Communist Party) were left untouched, while the leaders of then ruling coalition (and in particular Bettino Craxi) were wiped off the political map. Mani pulite (Italian for clean hands) was a nationwide Italian police investigation into political corruption held in the 1990s, following the scandal of Banco Ambrosiano in 1982, which implicated mafia, Vatican Bank and P2. ... The Partito Comunista Italiano (PCI) or Italian Communist Party emerged as Partito Comunista dItalia or Communist Party of Italy from a secession by the Leninist comunisti puri tendency from the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) during that bodys congress on 21 January 1921 at Livorno. ...

The judges in Milan were put under scrutiny several times by different governments (especially Silvio Berlusconi's first government in 1994), but no evidence of any misconduct was ever found. Furthermore, public opinion was much less concerned about foreign financing than about the misappropriation of "their" money by corrupt politicians.   (born September 29, 1936) is an Italian politician, entrepreneur, and media proprietor. ...

In the end, the Socialist party fell from 14% of votes to virtual nonexistence. An ironic note was that the shattered remnants party were excluded from seats in Parliament by a minimum vote requirement of 4% on national basis, a rule that Bettino Craxi himself demanded when his party was well above that level; the quota was actually lowered from 5% to 4% at the Socialists' request, but this was not enough.

As mentioned before, during the "Mani pulite" period Craxi tried to use a daring defense tactic: he maintained that all parties needed and took money illegally, however they could get it, to finance their activities. His defense was therefore not to declare himself innocent, but everybody guilty. While there may have been some truth to this, most citizens distrusted politicians, and Craxi's "defense" met no sympathy by the public and may have served to enrage it even further.

See also: Tangentopoli (Italian for bribeville, used to indicate the corruption-based system that ruled Italy; Craxi is seen by many as its symbol) Bettino Craxi, viewed by many as the symbol of Tangentopoli, leader of the Italian Socialist Party, is greeted by a salvo of coins as a sign of loathing by protesters contesting him. ...

"Midgets and dancers"

Craxi's lifestyle was perceived to be inappropriate for the secretary of a party with so many alleged financial problems: he lived in the Raphael, an expensive Hotel in Rome's centre (Piazza Navona), and had a large villa in Hammamet, Tunisia. As the Mani Pulite investigations were to uncover in the nineties, personal corruption was endemic in Italian society; while many politicians, including Craxi, would justify corruption with the necessities of a democracy, political leaders at many levels enjoyed a lifestyle that should have been well out of their reach, while most parties continued having financial problems. Rino Formica, a prominent member of the Socialist Party in those years, wittily said that "the convent is poor, but the friars are rich". For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... Fountain of the four Rivers with Egyptian obelisk, in the middle of Piazza Navona Piazza Navona is a square in Rome. ... Medina of Hammamet at night Hammamet (Arabic: ‎, ) is a town in Tunisia. ... Mani pulite (Italian for clean hands) was a nationwide Italian police investigation into political corruption held in the 1990s, following the scandal of Banco Ambrosiano in 1982, which implicated mafia, Vatican Bank and P2. ... The nineties is a decade common to a number of centuries. ...

Furthermore, Craxi's arrogant character won him many enemies; one of his most condemned actions was blaming corruption in the socialist party on treasurer Vincenzo Balzamo, just after the latter's death, in order to clear himself of any accusation. He also had controversial friends, such as Siad Barre, dictator of Somalia, and Ben Ali, dictator of Tunisia. The latter provided protection to Craxi when he escaped from Italy. Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre) (1919 – January 2, 1995) was the Head of State of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. ... General Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (زين العابدين بن علي; born in Hammam-Sousse on September 3, 1936) is the President of the Tunisian Republic since 7 November 1987 and only the second one since its independence from France on 20 March 1956. ...

Craxi's entourage was sharply defined by a critic as a "court of midgets and dancers", indicating the often ludicrous and immoral traits of a system based on personal acquaintance rather than merit. Among the friends of Craxi's to receive smaller and larger favours, Silvio Berlusconi is perhaps the most known: he received many favours, especially regarding his media empire, and had a decree named after him ("Decreto Berlusconi") long before he entered politics. Other figures were Craxi's mistresses Anja Pieroni, who owned a TV station in the Rome area, and Sandra Milo, who had a skyrocketing career in the state TV conglomerate RAI.   (born September 29, 1936) is an Italian politician, entrepreneur, and media proprietor. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Craxi was also known for never apologizing, as a matter of principle; whereas some did like this autocratic trait in his successful years, most Italians expected an apology after the corrupt system had been exposed. Craxi never apologized, stating he had done nothing that everybody else had not been doing, and that he was being unjustly singled out and persecuted. Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      An autocracy is a form of government in which the political power is held by a single person. ...

Escape to Tunisia

All this resulted in him being considered the symbol of political corruption, and for a time he was probably Italy's most despised man. This was clearly visible when he, coming out of his hotel, received a salvo of coins that students threw to him as sign of disgust. Some of the students waved 1,000-lire bills, singing Bettino, take these too! to the tune of Guantanamera. World map of the Corruption Perceptions Index, which measures the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. Blue colors indicate little corruption, red colors indicate much corruption In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse by government officials of their governmental powers for illegitimate... ISO 4217 Code ITL User(s) Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, but not Campione dItalia Inflation 2. ... Guantanamera (girl from Guantánamo) is perhaps the best known Cuban song and that countrys most noted patriotic song. ...

Understanding that the risk of being jailed was growing very real, Craxi escaped to Hammamet in Tunisia in 1994, and remained there, protected by Ben Ali's government. He repeatedly declared himself innocent, but never returned to Italy where he had already been sentenced to years in jail because of corruption charges. He died on January 19, 2000, at the age of 66, from complications of diabetes. Medina of Hammamet at night Hammamet (Arabic: ‎, ) is a town in Tunisia. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

Quotes by and about Bettino Craxi

Dentro Bettino, fuori il bottino ("Bettino (Craxi) in (jail), out with the loot"); popular tag on Milan's walls from 1992 on.

La Maxitangente fu solo una maxiballa ("The maxibribe was just maxibullshit"); uttered in court, about a (then alleged) huge bribe paid to many parties and politicians by Raul Gardini. Craxi was later convicted.

La mia libertà equivale alla mia vita ("My freedom is my life"), epitaph on his tomb.

The Mail Service proposed to release a stamp with Bettino Craxi's profile on it; it was discarded "because people would spit on the wrong side" -- the first joke in a book by comics Gino & Michele that became extremely famous in the late eighties and early nineties.

An epitaph ( literally: on the gravestone in ancient Greek) is text honoring the deceased, most commonly inscribed on a tombstone or plaque. ...

See also

• Italian Socialist Party
• Arnaldo Forlani
• Giulio Andreotti

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Arnaldo Forlani (born December 8, 1925) is an Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister of Italy from October 18, 1980 through May 26, 1981. ... Giulio Andreotti (born 14 January 1919 in Rome) is an Italian politician who served seven times as Prime Minister of Italy. ...

External links

• Craxi Foundation, in Italian.
• Craxi: Fallen kingpin. Article on Craxi's death by the BBC.

v • d • e Prime ministers of Italy
Kingdom of Italy	Cavour · Ricasoli · Rattazzi · Farini · Minghetti · La Marmora · Ricasoli · Rattazzi · Menabrea · Lanza · Minghetti · Depretis · Cairoli · Depretis · Cairoli · Depretis · Crispi · Starrabba · Giolitti · Crispi · Starrabba · Pelloux · Saracco · Zanardelli · Giolitti · Tittoni · Fortis · Sonnino · Giolitti · Sonnino · Luzzatti · Giolitti · Salandra · Boselli · Orlando · Nitti · Giolitti · Bonomi · Facta · Mussolini · Badoglio · Bonomi · Parri · De Gasperi Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... In Italy, the President of the Council of Ministers (Italian: Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri) is the countrys prime minister or head of government, and occupies the fourth-most important state office. ... Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In Italy, the President of the Council of Ministers (Italian: Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri) is the countrys prime minister or head of government, and occupies the fourth-most important state office. ... Anthem Marcia Reale dOrdinanza (Royal March of Ordinance)¹ The Kingdom of Italy at the height of its power in 1940. ... Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour (or Camillo di Cavour; August 10, 1810 – June 6, 1861) was an Italian statesman and a leading figure in the movement toward Italian unification. ... Bettino, baron Ricasoli (March 29, 1809 – October 23, 1880; IPA: ) was an Italian statesman. ... Urbano Rattazzi (June 20, 1808 – June 5, 1873) was an Italian statesman. ... Luigi Carlo Farini (October 22, 1812 - August 1, 1866), Italian statesman and historian, was born at Russi, near Ravenna. ... Marco Minghetti (November 18, 1818 – December 10, 1886) was an Italian economist and statesman. ... Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora (November 18, 1804–January 5, 1878) was a Pornstar for the company Weapons of Ass Destruction and a patriot. ... Bettino, baron Ricasoli (March 29, 1809 – October 23, 1880; IPA: ) was an Italian statesman. ... Urbano Rattazzi (June 20, 1808 – June 5, 1873) was an Italian statesman. ... Federico Luigi, Conte Menabrea, Marquis of Valdora (September 4, 1809 - May 24, 1896), Italian general and statesman, was born at Chambry. ... Domenico Giovanni Giuseppe Maria Lanza (February 15, 1810 - March 9, 1882), Italian politician, was born at Casale, Piedmont. ... Marco Minghetti (November 18, 1818 – December 10, 1886) was an Italian economist and statesman. ... Agostino Depretis (January 31, 1813 – July 29, 1887) was an Italian statesman. ... Benedetto Cairoli (January 28, 1825 – August 8, 1889) was an Italian statesman. ... Agostino Depretis (January 31, 1813 – July 29, 1887) was an Italian statesman. ... Benedetto Cairoli (January 28, 1825 – August 8, 1889) was an Italian statesman. ... Agostino Depretis (January 31, 1813 – July 29, 1887) was an Italian statesman. ... Francesco Crispi (October 4, 1819 – August 12, 1901) was a 19th century Italian politician. ... Antonio Starabba, Marchese di Rudinì (April 16, 1839 – August 7, 1908) was Prime Minister of Italy between 1891 and 1892 and from 1896 until 1898. ... Giovanni Giolitti (October 27, 1842–July 17, 1928) was an Italian statesman. ... Francesco Crispi (October 4, 1819 – August 12, 1901) was a 19th century Italian politician. ... Antonio Starabba, Marchese di Rudinì (April 16, 1839 – August 7, 1908) was Prime Minister of Italy between 1891 and 1892 and from 1896 until 1898. ... Luigi Pelloux (March 1, 1839 - October 26, 1924) was an Italian general and politician, born of parents who retained their Italian nationality when Savoy was annexed to France. ... Giuseppe Saracco (October 6, 1821 - January 19, 1907), Italian politician and financier, and knight of the Annunziata, was born at Bistagno. ... Giuseppe Zanardelli (October 29, 1826 - December 26, 1903) was an Italian jurisconsult, nationalist and political figure. ... Giovanni Giolitti (October 27, 1842–July 17, 1928) was an Italian statesman. ... Tommaso Tittoni (November 16, 1855 - February 7, 1931) was an italian diplomat, politician and knight of the Annunziata, born in Rome, where he turn back only in 1870, because his Father Vincenzo, a devoted to the Risorgimento, in 1860 was forced to flee the Papal States. ... Alessandro Fortis (September 16, 1842 – December 4, 1909) in Forlì, Papal States was an Italian politician who served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1905 to 1906. ... Baron Giorgio Sidney Sonnino (March 11, 1847 – November 24, 1922) was an Italian politician. ... Giovanni Giolitti (October 27, 1842–July 17, 1928) was an Italian statesman. ... Baron Giorgio Sidney Sonnino (March 11, 1847 – November 24, 1922) was an Italian politician. ... Luigi Luzzatti (March 11, 1841–March 29, 1927) was an Italian political figure. ... Giovanni Giolitti (October 27, 1842–July 17, 1928) was an Italian statesman. ... Antonio Salandra (Troia, Foggia province, 1853 - Rome, 1931) was a conservative Italian politician who served as Prime Minister of Italy between 1914 and 1916. ... Paolo Boselli (Savona, June 8, 1838 - Rome, March 10, 1932) was an Italian politician who served as Prime Minister of Italy during World War I. Boselli, a relatively undistinguished politician of the right-center who, at 78, was one of the oldest deputies in the Italian parliament, was appointed Prime... Vittorio Orlando Vittorio Emanuele Orlando (May 19, 1860 - December 1, 1952) was an Italian diplomat and political figure. ... Francesco Saverio Vincenzo de Paola Nitti (Melfi, July 19, 1868 - Rome, February 20, 1953) was an Italian economist and political figure. ... Giovanni Giolitti (October 27, 1842–July 17, 1928) was an Italian statesman. ... Ivanoe Bonomi (October 18, 1873 April 20, 1951) was an Italian politician and statesman. ... Luigi Facta (November 16, 1861 - November 5, 1930) was an Italian politician and journalist. ... Mussolini redirects here. ... Pietro Badoglio (September 28, 1871 - November 1, 1956) was an Italian soldier and politician. ... Ivanoe Bonomi (October 18, 1873 April 20, 1951) was an Italian politician and statesman. ... Ferruccio Parri (January 19, 1890 - December 8, 1981), Pinerolo, Piedmont was an Italian politician who served as Prime Minister of Italy for several months in 1945. ... Alcide De Gasperi (3 April 1881 – 19 August 1954) was an Italian statesman and politician. ...
Italian Republic	De Gasperi · Pella · Fanfani · Scelba · Segni · Zoli · Fanfani · Segni · Tambroni · Fanfani · Leone · Moro · Leone · Rumor · Colombo · Andreotti · Rumor · Moro · Andreotti · Cossiga · Forlani · Spadolini · Fanfani · Craxi · Fanfani · Goria · De Mita · Andreotti · Amato · Ciampi · Berlusconi · Dini · Prodi · D'Alema · Amato · Berlusconi · Prodi Image File history File links CoA_fam_ITA_savoia. ... Image File history File links Italy-Emblem. ... Alcide De Gasperi (3 April 1881 – 19 August 1954) was an Italian statesman and politician. ... Giuseppe Pella (April 18, 1902-1981) was an Italian Christian Democratic politician who served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1953 to 1954. ... Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... Mario Scelba (1901-1991) was an Italian Christian Democratic politician who served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1954-1955. ... Antonio Segni (February 2, 1891 – December 1, 1972) was an Italian politician who was President of the Italian Republic from 1962 to 1964. ... Adone Zoli (December 16, 1887 – February 20, 1960) was an Italian politician of the Christian Democratic Party. ... Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... Antonio Segni (February 2, 1891 – December 1, 1972) was an Italian politician who was President of the Italian Republic from 1962 to 1964. ... Fernando Tambroni [Fernando Tambroni Armaroli] (Ascoli Piceno 1901 – Roma 1963) was an Italian politician of the Christian Democratic Party. ... Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... Giovanni Leone Giovanni Leone (Naples, November 3, 1908 - November 9, 2001) was Prime Minister of Italy from June 21, 1963 to November 5, 1963 and again from June 24, 1968 to November 19, 1968. ... Aldo Moro (September 23, 1916 in Maglie – May 9, 1978 in Rome) was an Italian politician and five time Prime Minister of Italy, from 1963 to 1968, and then from 1974 to 1976. ... Giovanni Leone Giovanni Leone (Naples, November 3, 1908 - November 9, 2001) was Prime Minister of Italy from June 21, 1963 to November 5, 1963 and again from June 24, 1968 to November 19, 1968. ... Mariano Rumor (June 16, 1915 – 22 January 1990) was an Italian politician, a member of the Democrazia Cristiana and several times Prime Minister of Italy. ... Emilio Colombo (born April 14, 1920) was an Italian diplomat and politician. ... Giulio Andreotti (born 14 January 1919 in Rome) is an Italian politician who served seven times as Prime Minister of Italy. ... Mariano Rumor (June 16, 1915 – 22 January 1990) was an Italian politician, a member of the Democrazia Cristiana and several times Prime Minister of Italy. ... Aldo Moro (September 23, 1916 in Maglie – May 9, 1978 in Rome) was an Italian politician and five time Prime Minister of Italy, from 1963 to 1968, and then from 1974 to 1976. ... Giulio Andreotti (born 14 January 1919 in Rome) is an Italian politician who served seven times as Prime Minister of Italy. ... Francesco Cossiga (born July 26, 1928) is an Italian politician and former President of the Italian Republic. ... Arnaldo Forlani (born December 8, 1925) is an Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister of Italy from October 18, 1980 through May 26, 1981. ... Giovanni Spadolini (Florence, June 21, 1925-[august 6[1994]]) was a liberal Italian politician, member of Italian Republican Party (PRI), who served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1981-1982, the first in the 1st Republic not from Christian Democracy. ... Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... Amintore Fanfani (6 February 1908 – 20 November 1999) was an Italian politician and Prime Minister. ... Giovanni Giuseppe Goria (July 30, 1943- May 21, 1994) was an Italian politician. ... Ciriaco Luigi de Mita (born February 2, 1928) is an Italian politician. ... Giulio Andreotti (born 14 January 1919 in Rome) is an Italian politician who served seven times as Prime Minister of Italy. ... Giuliano Amato (born May 13, 1938) is an Italian politician. ... Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (born 9 December 1920 in Livorno) is an Italian politician and banker who has been both Prime Minister of Italy and President of the Italian Republic. ...   (born September 29, 1936) is an Italian politician, entrepreneur, and media proprietor. ... Lamberto Dini (right) with William Cohen Lamberto Dini (born in Florence, March 1, 1931), is a former Italian Prime Minister (1995-1996) and Foreign Minister (1996-2001). ...   (born 9 August 1939) is an Italian politician. ... Massimo DAlema (born April 20, 1949) is an Italian politician, currently Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice President of the Council of Ministers of Italy. ... Giuliano Amato (born May 13, 1938) is an Italian politician. ...   (born September 29, 1936) is an Italian politician, entrepreneur, and media proprietor. ...   (born 9 August 1939) is an Italian politician. ...