Bologna, September 11, 2026 – “With Emma Bonino disappears one of the great protagonists of Italian and European civil history. A free, courageous, and tenacious woman, who throughout her life chose to expose herself personally to assert rights and freedoms that today may seem acquired to us, but are the result of difficult and complex battles, often fought against deeply rooted prejudices in society.”
It is with these words that Michele de Pascale, president of Emilia-Romagna, remembers the leader of +Europa, several times minister of the Republic and historic face of the Italian radical movement, who died this morning at 78 years old.
For eight years she had lived with a lung tumor, from which she declared to be cured in 2023. In recent days she had been hospitalized in intensive care following a respiratory crisis: yesterday she was then transferred to a private facility, before the fatal worsening that occurred in the last hours.
Born in Bra, in the province of Cuneo in 1948, Emma Bonino crossed over fifty years of Italian and European history. Her commitment extended beyond Italian borders: from campaigns against world hunger and for the abolition of the death penalty to the defense of women’s rights, to the fight against female genital mutilation and initiatives to protect human rights, against war crimes and for international justice.
De Pascale: “The legacy she leaves us today belongs to all of us”
“The legacy she leaves us today goes beyond factions and political affiliations: it is part of the civil conscience of our country and, precisely for this reason, belongs to all of us,” continues the governor, who in his long message of condolence also recalled how “not all her ideas and battles were shared by everyone, and perhaps this is one of the signs of her greatness: Emma Bonino never sought the easiest path or the most comfortable consensus. She forced politics and society to confront issues that demanded answers. And many of the achievements she fought for have helped make our country more aware and more capable of recognizing the dignity and choices of each individual.”
Mayor Lepore: “Italy loses one of the last great political figures of the 20th century”
Also Mayor Lepore this morning wanted to remember Emma Bonino and express his condolences. “Italy loses one of the last great political figures of the 20th century, who crossed the history of our country always putting the courage of her ideas, never afraid to be in the minority. Emma Bonino, who was also Minister of Foreign Affairs, fought battles that seemed impossible and that profoundly changed Italy: for civil rights, for women’s freedom, for self-determination, against the death penalty, for a stronger and more united Europe. Teaching so much to all of us and to entire generations of Italians – reads the message from the mayor –. To her family, to her comrades and companions of many battles go my condolences and those of the entire city of Bologna. I wrote a telegram to +Europa to express closeness to the entire political community that Bonino helped to found.”
Prodi: “Today our country has lost a woman of great intelligence”
“I learned with great sorrow of the passing of Emma Bonino. I shared years of intense and passionate work with her and between us, even in moments of disagreement, loyalty and clarity always prevailed, so much so that our collaboration turned into friendship. A friendship that allowed us to establish a relationship of exchange and confrontation of opinions that lasted over time, beyond our political commitment and beyond our differences.” says former Prime Minister Romano Prodi in a statement.
“Reserved and strong as she was, Emma Bonino in our last phone calls also spoke to me about her illness, but always without personalism or victimhood. She was a passionate and determined Europeanist, she dealt with people’s rights with unforgettable tenacity and today our country has lost a woman of great intelligence. My most heartfelt and affectionate thoughts go to her, her family and all the friends and people who loved her,” concludes Prodi.
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