Napolitano, born in 1925 in Naples who has undergone several operations in recent years, stepped down in 2015 after nearly a decade as head of state, becoming the first president of the Italian Republic to be re-elected for a second term.
Before becoming president, Giorgio Napolitano, who turned 98 on June 29, was president of the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house of the Italian parliament), minister of the interior, member of the European Parliament and senator.
As a member of the Communist Party (PCI), in 2006 he became the first President of the Republic to emerge from this political formation, and since then he has presided over the formation of the government of five Prime Ministers: Romano Prodi (2006-2008), Silvio Berlusconi (2008-2011), Mario Monti (2011-2013), Enrico Letta (2013-2014) and Matteo Renzi (2014-2016).
In 2013, at the age of 88, he made history as the oldest head of state in Europe and the first to serve a second term in Italy, due to the inability of political formations to find a successor, which was later repeated with the current government. President of the country, Sergio Mattarella.
As the protocol stipulates, a large state funeral is expected, such as that of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi last June, although in this case it was an exceptional circumstance, as the magnate has never held the position of President of the Republic.
Source: DN
