Luigi Berlinguer has died in Siena hospital.

The deputy, senator and MEP, was born in Sassari and was 91 years old. He had been hospitalized since last August. He was Enrico Berlinguer's cousin.

The former minister, called by the Ciampi, Prodi and D'Alema governments, had led the department of universities and scientific research, then from 1996 to 2000 he had been minister of public education. The change to the high school leaving exam, with a new formulation, starting from 1999, bears his signature.

First municipal councilor of Sennori from 1956 to 1960, and mayor of the same municipality from 1960 to 1964, from 1956 he was provincial councilor, then PCI deputy for Sardinia in the fourth legislature 1963-1968.

Tomorrow, in the rector's hall of the University of Siena (of which he was rector from 1985 to 1994), the funeral chapel will be set up.

There were numerous messages of condolence, among the first that of Giuseppe Valditara, Minister of Education, who wrote on X: «I now learn with great sorrow of the passing of Luigi Berlinguer. He was a minister passionate about school, always open to dialogue, and left an important mark. My deepest condolences to his loved ones."

«A man of great intellectual and human depth, a true professor, with an extraordinary ability to experience politics in an operational way. In our shared experience at the European Parliament, I was able to appreciate his stature and authority, and I want to express my gratitude for how, in my steps in a complex context, he was able to be a discreet and affectionate point of reference for me. My condolences to the family and the academic community" is the message from Debora Serracchiani, of the Pd national secretariat.

(Unioneonline/ss)

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