Italy loses its 'radical' conscience: Emma Bonino dies at 78

Emma Bonino, the former Italian minister and European Commissioner, died in Rome on Friday at the age of 78. Her political party, Più Europa (More Europe), which she founded, confirmed the news. "Hoy no nos deja solamente nuestra líder; nos deja una de las protagonistas más lúcidas, valientes y libres de la historia política de nuestro país y del mundo libre," the organization announced. Bonino was hospitalized in serious condition last Sunday at Santo Spirito hospital in Rome, where she lived. She was moved to a private clinic on Thursday. Born in Bra on March 9, 1948, Bonino was one of Italy's most recognized politicians. She was known for leading battles throughout her long career, including the legalization of abortion and the end of nuclear energy. She also made her mark on the international stage. "Siempre radicalmente libre. Su vida ha sido una larga lucha contra todo aquello que niega las libertades: contra el aborto clandestino, contra el hambre en el mundo, contra la partitocracia, contra la mutilación genital femenina, contra el justicialismo, contra los genocidios, contra cualquier forma de autoritarismo," the statement emphasized. A leading figure in the Italian Radical Party since 1975—a liberal and reformist group—Bonino served as a deputy, senator, and four-time Member of the European Parliament. She was also European Commissioner for Consumer Policy, Fisheries, and Humanitarian Aid from 1995 to 1999. In Italy, she served twice as a minister in social democratic governments: Minister for European Affairs and International Trade under Romano Prodi (2006-2008), and Foreign Minister under Enrico Letta (2013-2014). In 2015, she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. She fought the disease publicly, often wearing a characteristic headscarf, until she announced on television in 2023 that she had overcome it. Last December, she was hospitalized again after suffering respiratory failure. Her battles and calls for justice earned her numerous honors. These include the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the French Legion of Honor, and the 1998 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation.