Italy is mourning the unexpected death of one of its most honest and integral politicians, David Sassoli.  Born in Florence in 1956 David started as a journalist, became a popular television presenter, was deputy director of the Italian TG1 news desk and was elected an MEP in 2009 representing the centre-left democratic-socialist alliance. In 2019 Sassoli was elected president of the European parliament, a position he retained until his untimely death from a form of blood cancer on 11^th of January this year.

Italy does not have a very wonderful reputation for the way it handles its political scenario. However, this does not prevent some of the greatest figures emerging from its often confused and corrupted situation. The names of Giorgio Berlinguer (whose daughter is a well-known television presenter) and Alcide De Gasperi immediately come to mind. They helped to rescue a land mired in the ruins of a nation traitorously led into a war by a fascist regime and re-established Italy as one of the leading members of the European community and a solid upholder of democratic values. Sassoli was of this class and it is terribly sad that this utterly straightforward and candid person who described himself as a ’socialist christian’, has left Italy at the height of his competency and powers as the head of one of the world’s greatest politico-economic organizations.

For once I know that politics can also produce truly honourable persons. For once, I am deeply sad about the death of a politician…