Antonio Martino, economist and former Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs in the Berlusconi governments, died. He was 79 years old and was Forza Italia’s number 2 card.
The debut in politics as a liberal
Born in Messina and son of Gaetano Martino, one of the fathers of the European Union, Martino was a professor of history and monetary policy and Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the Luiss in Rome. He joined Forza Italia in 1994: Silvio Berlusconi often said that the economist had the number two card of the party. He had taken his first steps in politics with the liberals: in December ’88 he had been a minority candidate for the secretariat of the Pli.
Nobel student Friedman
Deputy for six legislatures, from 1994 to 2018, in Chicago he was a student of the Nobel Prize in Economics Milton Friedman, the main exponent of the economic theory of monetarism, who had a huge influence on him. Martino defined himself as “simply liberal” and believed that the failure of statist policies is not only due to technical-economic reasons, but also ethical and philosophical ones. His differences, due to his liberal position in economics, with the former Minister of Economy Giulio Tremonti remain memorable: several times Martino accused him, even in interventions at Montecitorio, of having illiberal and anti-market positions.
Mattarella: advocate of liberal democracy values
“I express my deep condolences for the death of Antonio Martino, a valuable economist, a man of the institutions and several times a minister, consistent and determined advocate of the values of the West and liberal democracy” declared the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.
Draghi: strengthened Italy’s transatlantic ties
Condolence was expressed by the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi: “A profound connoisseur of liberal thought, he has brought his values and his vision of the world to the center of Italian intellectual, political and institutional life”, wrote the premier. «Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, he has worked incessantly to strengthen Italy’s transatlantic ties and to anticipate the abolition of military service. My and the Government’s condolences to his loved ones, ”concludes Draghi.