Emma Bonino, an Italian feminist activist and politician who played a central role in advancing civil rights and reproductive freedom in Italy, has died aged 78. Born in Bra outside Turin, Bonino studied modern languages and literature at Bocconi University in Milan before becoming involved in activism during the social movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Bonino’s political engagement intensified after a personal experience seeking an abortion in 1974, when the procedure was illegal in Italy. Angered by the humiliation and cost involved, she joined the Radical party and helped establish a network of centers providing safe abortions across the country. When authorities issued an arrest warrant for her involvement in these activities, Bonino strategically requested her arrest after voting in regional elections in June 1975, creating a powerful media moment that galvanized public attention to the cause. She spent time imprisoned but refused early release, recognizing the political impact of her incarceration.
As a member of parliament for the Radical party beginning in 1976, Bonino led campaigns using the Italian constitutional referendum mechanism to advance legislative reform. Within a short period, major victories were achieved: a 1978 law reformed Italy’s mental health system, and Law No. 194 legalized abortion that same year, subsequently confirmed through a referendum in 1981. These achievements represented the culmination of years of activism and represented significant shifts in Italian law, though Bonino viewed the abortion legislation as a necessary compromise rather than an ideal outcome.
Bonino’s later political career proved more controversial. Her 1994 support for Silvio Berlusconi’s government as a condition for her appointment as European Commissioner from 1995 disappointed many leftist supporters who viewed the move as a betrayal of earlier radical principles. She ran as a presidential candidate in 1999, though parliament elected Carlo Azeglio Ciampi instead. Her electoral list achieved over 8 percent of the vote in that year’s European elections, electing seven members of the European Parliament, though this success did not sustain long-term political momentum.
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