Giorgio Ruffolo, former PSI minister in four governments – Corriere.it has died

Giorgio Ruffolo, politician, economist and historian, exponent of the PSI, died today in Rome at the age of 96. Minister of the environment from 1987 to 1992 in the Goria, De Mita, Andreotti VI and VII governments. The announcement was made by Valdo Spini, a party mate and his successor at the Ministry of the Environment. Giorgio Ruffolo – writes Spini – leaves a lasting trace in the culture and politics of the Italian socialist and left wing. National Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Planning, European Deputy, Italian Deputy and then Senator, Minister of the Environment for the entire 1987-1992 legislature, Giorgio Ruffolo covered the entire process of an important institutional affair. He did so – Spini underlines – with the competence of a high-level economist, but also with the commitment of a socialist political militant since the time of his youth militancy in the Italian Socialist Youth Federation. In Psi he served in Antonio Giolitti’s current and then in the Lombard left. Together we participated in the foundation of the Democrats of the Left, a political formation that saw the placement of the symbol of the European Socialist Party at the base of the PDS Oak instead of that of the PCI.

In Ruffolo – continues Spini’s recollection – the intellectual and the militant were combined in a very special way, under the banner of a dialogue between reason and passion that accompanied him throughout his life. For my generation – Spini still remembers – an essential point of reference. Personally I loved him very much, for the relationship he knew how to weave on a human level as well. It was known that his illness no longer allowed him to participate in political and cultural debate, but his silent presence was still a point of reference. To the family, friends, collaborators, all the participation in pain and regret. The funeral will take place on Saturday 18 February at 3 pm at the Waldensian Church in Piazza Cavour.