Lina Merlin

Angelina "Lina" Merlin (15 October 1887 – 16 August 1979) was an Italian politician, perhaps best known for authoring and promoting the so-called "Merlin law" which abolished state-regulated prostitution in Italy. She was also an activist and educator, and took part in the Italian resistance movement.

The daughter of Giustina Poli, a teacher, and Fruttuoso Merlin, secretary for the municipality, she was born in Pozzonovo, and grew up in Chioggia. In 1907, she received her diploma, qualifying her to teach elementary school. In 1914, she received her qualification to teach French in middle school, but preferred to continue to teach elementary school. In March 1926, because she refused to take an oath of loyalty to Italy's Fascist government, she was removed from her teaching position. In November of that year, she was sentenced to five years in prison; her sentence was reduced, and she returned to Padua in November 1929. She moved to Milan in 1930; to support herself, she gave private lessons in French.

Electoral history

ElectionHouseConstituencyPartyVotesResult 1946 Constituent Assembly Verona–Padua–Vicenza–Rovigo PSIUP 5,914 Italy at-large – 1948 Senate of the Republic Veneto – Adria FDP 40,323 1953 Senate of the Republic Veneto – Rovigo PSI 20,209 1958 Chamber of Deputies Verona–Padua–Vicenza–Rovigo PSI 7,786 Elected