Giorgio Ruffolo, socialist and minister from 1987 to 1992, has died. He was 96 years old

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 mark in the culture and politics of the Italian left and socialist”. “National Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Planning, European Deputy, Italian Deputy and then Senator, Minister of the Environment for the entire ’87-’92 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’s militancy in the Italian Socialist Youth Federation.

In the PSI he served in the current of Antonio Giolitti 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 Oak of the PDS instead of that of the PCI”. “In Ruffolo – he continues – the intellectual and the militant, 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 participation in the pain and regret”. The funeral will take place on Saturday 18 February at 3 pm at the Waldensian Church in Piazza Cavour.