Vittorio Lattanzio

Vittorio (Vito) Lattanzio (October 31, 1926, – October 31, 2010) was an Italian Christian Democrat politician and physician.[1]

Vittorio Lattanzio
Personal details
Born(1926-10-31)October 31, 1926
Bari, Apulia, Italy
DiedOctober 31, 2010(2010-10-31) (aged 84)
Bari, Apulia, Italy
NationalityItalian
Political partyChristian Democrat
ProfessionPhysician

Biography

Lattanzio was born October 31, 1926 in Bari, Italy. He would get a degree in medicine and begin working as a physician before entering politics, where he would become a prominent member of the Christian Democrats; making a name for himself in the field of foreign policy.[1]

Political career

He would first take the national stage by becoming the Undersecretary of Defence in the Andreotti II Cabinet.[2]

Lattanzio served as Minister of Defence (1976–1977) in the Andreotti III Cabinet.[3][4] He would face harsh criticism for his role as Minister of Defense after convicted Nazi Herbert Kappler escaped from Italian custody in 1977 to find sanctuary in West Germany.[5][6] He would ultimately resign from this position due to the scandal but go on to take different cabinet level positions.[7][8][9]

Following the kidnapping and death of fellow Apulia native Aldo Moro, Lattanzio effectively inherited the 'Apulian electoral fortune.'[1][9]

He would go on to serve the cabinets of Prime Ministers Andreotti (1976–1978, 1989–1992) and De Mita (1988–89) as Minister of Transport, then Minister of Civil Protection,[10] and lastly as Minister of Foreign Trade.[11][12] While serving as Minister of Civil protection he would be criticized for inefficient handling of the department during the 1990 Augusta Earthquake.[13] Lattanzio would actively participate in increasing trade with China while Minister of Foreign Trade.[11] He also served in the Chamber of Deputies of Italy in Legislature III, Legislature IV, Legislature V, Legislature VI, Legislature VII, Legislature VIII, Legislature IX and Legislature X.[2][14]

Lattanzio would be placed under house arrest while being investigated on allegations of corruption and illicit party financing.[15]

He died in his hometown of Bari on his 84th birthday, and was survived by his daughter.[1]

Political offices
Preceded by
Arnaldo Forlani		 Minister of Defence of Italy
1976–1977		 Succeeded by
Attilio Ruffini

Works
  • Wrote Italian Security Policy and the North Atlantic Alliance for the Nato Review.[3]

References
  1. "Morto l'ex ministro Vito Lattanzio pilastro della Dc, aveva 84 anni - Bari - Repubblica.it". Bari - La Repubblica. Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  2. Italy; Documents and Notes. Centro di documentazione. 1973.
  3. Lattanzio, Vittorio (February 1977). "Italian Security Policy and the North Atlantic Alliance". In Jenner, Peter (ed.). NATO Review. Vol 25. NATO Information Service.
  4. Tessmer, Arnold Lee (1988). Politics of Compromise: NATO and AWACS. University of California: National Defense University Press. ISBN 9780160016813.
  5. Levi, Primo; Belpoliti, Marco (2002). Belpoliti, Marco (ed.). The Black Hole of Auschwitz. Italy: Polity. ISBN 978-0-7456-3240-7.
  6. Levi, Primo; Belpoliti, Marco. The Black Hole of Auschwitz. Polity. ISBN 978-0-7456-3240-7.
  7. Cicchino, Enzo (2000). "Kappler's escape MEETING WITH Hon. Minister Vito Lattanzio". www.larchivio.com. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  8. Levi, Primo (2015-09-28). Goldstein, Ann (ed.). The Complete Works of Primo Levi. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-1-63149-206-8.
  9. L'espresso (in Italian). Editrice L'Espresso. 1980.
  10. Goebel, Klaus; Dardo, Mauro D. (1992-08-29). New Emergencies, The: 9th International Seminar On Nuclear War. World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-4553-85-8.
  11. Daily Report: China. Ohio State University: Foreign Broadcast Information Service. October 10, 2017 [1992].
  12. Gazzetta ufficiale della Repubblica italiana. serie generale (in Italian). Vol 1. National Central Library of Rome: Istituto poligrafico e zecca dello Stato. May 21, 2018 [1994].
  13. Catenacci, V. "IL DISSESTO GEOLOGICO E GEOAMBIENTALE IN ITALIA SICILIA" (PDF). isprambiente.gov.it. Cronistorie. pp. 261–263. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  14. Daily Report: Western Europe. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1978.
  15. Giangrande, Antonio. Bari e la Puglia: QUELLO CHE NON SI OSA DIRE (in Italian). Antonio Giangrande.
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