Luigi Berlinguer

Luigi Berlinguer (; 25 July 1932 – 1 November 2023) was an Italian jurist and politician. He was a professor at the University of Siena, and also served as the minister of university and research and the minister of education.

Early life and education Berlinguer was born in Sassari, Sardinia, on 25 July 1932. His brother, Sergio Berlinguer, was a diplomat and politician. They were cousins of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) leader Enrico Berlinguer, who died in 1984.

Career Berlinguer served as mayor of Sennori. He was one of the three former PCI members in the cabinet. He served as the minister of education between 1996 and 2000 in the cabinets led first by Romano Prodi and then by Massimo D'Alema. He was also acting minister of universities, science, and technology from 1996 to October 1998. He was succeeded by Ortensio Zecchino as minister. In addition, he served in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. Berlinguer was elected as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 2009, sitting as part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

Death Berlinguer died on 1 November 2023, at the age of 91.

Electoral history ElectionHouseConstituencyPartyVotesResult 1963 Chamber of Deputies Cagliari–Sassari–Nuoro–Oristano PCI 16,633 Elected 1994 Chamber of Deputies Florence PDS 34,218 Elected 1996 Chamber of Deputies Florence PDS 40,850 Elected 2001 Senate of the Republic Tuscany – Pisa DS 78,361 Elected 2009 European Parliament North-East Italy PD 81,464 Elected Source:

Awards and honours In 2011, Berlinguer received by the European Parliament the MEP award in the field of culture and education.

73x73px Knight Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, 27 December 1992.