“Addio Presidente” – “goodbye, president” – writes the newspaper La Stampa at the top of its website on Friday evening. “The first Italian president to be elected twice has passed away,” writes the newspaper La Repubblica. Napolitano is said to have been suffering from illness for a long time. He died on Friday in the Italian capital Rome. The ex-communist who became president The news agency Reuters describes Napolitano as one of modern Italy’s most important presidents. He was considered clean-cut, principled and steady – in contrast to the stamp many other Italian politicians have received over the years. “King Giorgio” was one of the nicknames he was given. Napolitano joined the Italian Communist Party (PCI) in 1945. In 2006, he was elected by parliament to become the country’s president. He was the first communist to become president of Italy, several Italian media claim this evening. Was president until he was 89. Napolitano was also the first Italian president to be re-elected. In 2013, he was elected president for a second term, when then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi lost support in parliament. However, in 2015 he resigned as president. At the time, he himself said that his age made it more difficult to carry out his duties as president. He was then 89 years old. Napolitano has also been a member of the European Parliament. Power Although on a daily basis the prime minister is the political figurehead, the Italian president also has formal power. Among other things, he is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has control over the National Defense Council and is the only one who can declare war. He has power when it comes to important parts of the judiciary and is the one who can call referendums, dissolve the National Assembly and call new elections. He is also the one who selects the prime minister.
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Giorgio Napolitano is dead – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
