Sandro Pertini

Sandro Pertini was born in Stella San Giovanni, in the province of Savona, on the 25^th of September 1896. Serving as a machine-gun lieutenant during the First World War, he graduated from university with a degree in Law and Political Science after the war and soon joined the Socialist Party.

A staunch anti-fascist, he was sentenced for the first time to eight months in prison and in 1926 was given five years of internment. Together with Filippo Turati, he expatriated to France. Pertini worked as a bricklayer, film extra and taxi washer between Nice and Paris, combining these activities with his political activities.

In 1929, he returned to Italy under a false name; he was arrested and sentenced to ten years and nine months' imprisonment by the Special Court for the Defence of the State.

After being released in 1943, he actively participated in the Resistance and became deputy secretary of the Socialist Party. He was arrested again by the Nazi-Fascists, sentenced to death and interned in Regina Coeli prison, escaping in 1944 thanks to action by the partisans.

After the Second World War he was elected to the Constituent Assembly, subsequently becoming a senator and deputy and then President of the Chamber of Deputies.

In 1978, the Italian Parliament elected him President of the Republic: he was the Italian people's favourite President due partly to his new and dynamic way of connecting with the Italians, especially the young.

Story collected in collaboration with the Historical Archives of the Presidency of the Republic.