The former Italian foreign minister and current president of the Council of State, Franco Frattini, died Saturday at the age of 65.
Franco Frattini, who served twice as Italy’s foreign minister died on Saturday at the age of 65, Italian media reported.
Frattini, who had been ill for some time with cancer, died in a Rome hospital.
He was foreign minister under Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi 2002-2004 and 2008-2011. He also held two other cabinet posts in governments headed by Berlusconi and Lamberto Dini in the 1990s.
“I will always remember the great ability to face complex problems with a smile, to be at ease in every role and the esteem he has sown. I will miss him as much as all the people who were lucky enough to be able to collaborate with him,” Berlusconi wrote on his Instagram profile.
From 2004 to 2008 he was European Commissioner for Justice. At the time of his death he was president of Italy’s Council of State; the council is a consultative body that oversees public administration.
Politicians mourn passing of Franco Frattini
The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella said: ”The death of President Franco Frattini saddens me deeply. His passing deprives the Republic of a high-profile protagonist who has made an important contribution to the life of our institutions in recent years. In Parliament, at the helm of important ministries, as a member of the Commission of the European Union, in the authoritative presidency of the Council of State and in his political, cultural and administrative commitment, his presence has always been greatly appreciated by all.
“I express to the family the deepest condolences of the Republic and my own, recalling the many opportunities for meeting and collaboration”.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tweeted, “Franco Frattini was a polite and intelligent man, a servant of the institutions. He was my friend. On behalf of the Government, I extend my sincere condolences to family and friends. We will be proud to complete the reform of the Procurement Code for which he worked hard”.”
