Piersanti Mattarella

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Piersanti Mattarella (May 24, 1935 - January 6, 1980) was an Italian politician. He was assassinated by the Mafia while he held the position of Regional President of Sicily.

[edit] Biography

The body of Piersanti Mattarella carried away after his assassination.

Mattarella was born in Castellammare del Golfo, in the province of Trapani. He was the son of Bernardo Mattarella, a member of Christian Democracy (DC); his brother Sergio is also a politician.

He received a Christian-oriented education by the Jesuits. In the 1960 he became a national leader of the Azione Cattolica, and subsequently became an important regional member of DC. Inspired by the politics of Giorgio La Pira, he adhered to the more progressist current of national leader Aldo Moro. In 1967 he became deputy to the Regional Parliament of Sicily, a position he held until 1978, when he was elected President of Sicily.

Two years later, he was killed by mafia in Palermo: initially pointed out as a terrorism act, his assassination was probably spurred by its strong commitment against the relationships of numerous Sicilian politicians (mostly members of DC itself) with the Mafia. The latter's involvement was confirmed by the pentito Tommaso Buscetta. The hit team consisted of Nino Madonia, Vincenzo Puccio and Pippo Gambino.

According to pentito Francesco Marino Mannoia, CD-politician Giulio Andreotti contacted Mafia boss Stefano Bontade to try to prevent the Mafia from killing Piersanti Mattarella. Mattarela wanted to clean up the government’s public contracts racket that benefitted Cosa Nostra. Bontade and other mafiosi felt betrayed by Mattarella who used to be responsive to Mafia interests (his father Bernardo Mattarella was rumored to be associated with the Mafia).

According to Francesco Marino Mannoia the killers of Mattarella were Salvatore Federico, Francesco Davì, Santo Inzerillo and Antonio Rotolo.

Andreotti’s attempt failed. After the murder of Mattarella, Andreotti again contacted Bontade to try to straighten things out. However, according to Marino Mannoia, Bontade told Andreotti: "we are in charge in Sicily, and unless you want the whole DC canceled out, you do as we say."

[edit] See also

• Political connections of Stefano Bontade
• Giulio Andreotti

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