Enrico De Nicola
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Enrico De Nicola (Naples, November 9, 1877 - Torre del Greco, Naples, October 1, 1959) was an Italian jurist, journalist, politician, and the first provisional Head of State of the newborn republic in 1946-1948.
De Nicola became famous as one of the most esteemed penal lawyers, was elected a deputy for the first time in 1909 and he filled minor governmental posts until the advent of Fascism, when he retired from political life; he was named by the King a senator of the kingdom in 1926, but he never took part in the workings of the Assembly.
After 1943, when Fascism ended, he was perhaps the most influential mediator for the creation of the charge of "Lieutenant" by which the king continued to formally be the Head of State.
The Constituent Assembly elected him Provisional Head of State on June 28, 1946, with 80% of the votes, at the first round of voting. Giulio Andreotti later recalled that De Nicola - mainly due to the unique modesty of the man - was not sure whether to accept the nomination, and he was subject to frequent changes of mind in the face of repeated importunement by all the major political leaders. Andreotti had then to write to him: "Your Excellency, please, decide to decide if you can accept to accept..."
On June 25, 1947, De Nicola resigned from the post, officially for health problems, but the Constituent Assembly immediately re-elected him again the following day, having recognised in his act signs of nobility and humility. The value of the man was indeed so great that he is still considered as perhaps the most serious Italian politician of the 20th century.
After the Italian Constitution took effect, he was formally named the "President of the State" on January 1, 1948. He finally refused to be a candidate for the first constitutional election the following May, in which Luigi Einaudi was elected to the Quirinale.
De Nicola became a senator for life (as a former Head of State), and later was elected the President of the Senate, and of the Constitutional Court.
His lifestyle was as honest as it was extremely austere, and in times of general economical crisis, he increased poverty, but was always memorably dignified. De Nicola remains in the Italian history as one of the sharpest figures ever.
| Preceded by: – | President of Italy 1946-1948 | Followed by: Luigi Einaudi |