| Enrico De Nicola | |
|---|---|
| 1st President of Italy | |
| In office 1 July 1946 – 12 May 1948 |
|
| Prime Minister | Alcide De Gasperi |
| Preceded by | Position established Humbert II as King of Italy |
| Succeeded by | Luigi Einaudi |
| President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 26 June 1920 – 25 January 1924 |
|
| Preceded by | Vittorio Emanuele Orlando |
| Succeeded by | Alfredo Rocco |
| President of the Italian Senate | |
| In office 28 April 1951 – 24 June 1952 |
|
| Preceded by | Ivanoe Bonomi |
| Succeeded by | Giuseppe Paratore |
| Lifetime Senator | |
| In office 12 May 1948 – 1 October 1959 |
|
| Constituency | Former President |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 November 1877 Naples, Italy |
| Died | 1 October 1959 (aged 81) Torre del Greco, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Political party | Italian Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Bachelor |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Enrico Roberto De Nicola (Italian pronunciation: [enˈriːko roˈbɛrto de niˈkɔːla]; 9 November 1877, Naples – 1 October 1959) was an Italian jurist, journalist, politician, and the first provisional Head of State of the newborn republic of Italy from 1946 to 1948.[1]
Enrico De Nicola was born in Naples and became famous as one of the most esteemed penal lawyers in Italy. He was elected a deputy for the first time in 1909 and he filled minor governmental posts until the advent of fascism, when he retired from political life. He was appointed senator by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1926, but he never took part in the workings of the Assembly.
After 1943, when fascism ended, De Nicola was perhaps the most influential mediator for the creation of the title "Lieutenant-General of the Realm", by which the king's son Prince Umberto took over most of the functions of the sovereign. Once the monarchy had ended, the Constituent Assembly elected De Nicola Provisional Head of State on 28 June 1946, with 80% of the votes, at the first round of voting. Giulio Andreotti later recalled that De Nicola — mainly because of his unique modesty — was not sure whether to accept the nomination, and underwent frequent changes of mind in the face of repeated importuning by all the major political leaders. Andreotti had then to write to him: "Your Excellency, please, decide to decide if you can accept to accept..."
On 25 June 1947, De Nicola resigned from the post, citing health reasons, but the Constituent Assembly immediately re-elected him again the following day, having recognised in his act signs of nobility and humility. After the Italian Constitution took effect, he was formally named the "President of the Italian Republic" on 1 January 1948. He finally refused to be a candidate for the first constitutional election the following May, in which Luigi Einaudi was elected to the Quirinale.
De Nicola became a senator for life (as a former Head of State), and later was elected the President of the Senate, and of the Constitutional Court.
He died at Torre del Greco, in the province of Naples, in 1959.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vittorio Emanuele Orlando |
President of Italian Chamber of Deputies 1920–1924 |
Succeeded by Alfredo Rocco |
| Preceded by New title Humbert II as King of Italy |
President of Italian Republic 1946–1948 |
Succeeded by Luigi Einaudi |
| Preceded by Ivanoe Bonomi |
President of Italian Senate 1951–1952 |
Succeeded by Giuseppe Paratore |
|
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