Fanfani, Amintore (ämēntô`rā fänfän`ē), 1908–99, Italian political leader, a Christian Democrat. A noted scholar, he held several cabinet posts after World War II and was secretary of the Christian Democratic party from 1954 to 1959. He was premier in 1954, 1958–59, 1960–63 (twice), 1982–83, and 1987; in 1962 he succeeded in reorganizing his cabinet to include the Social Democrats, thus inaugurating an "opening to the left" in Italian politics. A strong supporter of the European Economic Community (Common Market), Fanfani was foreign minister in 1965 and in 1966–68. He also served (1965–66) as president of the UN General Assembly. He entered the Italian senate in 1968 and served as its president. In 1973, he resigned from that post to again become secretary of the Christian Democrats, but he returned to the senate in 1976 and was its president for six more years.

Fanfani, Amintore

(born Feb. 6, 1908, Pieve Santo Stefano, Italy—died Nov. 20, 1999, Rome) Italian premier who formed and led the centre-left coalition that dominated Italian politics in the late 1950s and '60s. Elected to Italy's constituent assembly (1946), he became secretary-general of the Christian Democratic Party (1954) after serving briefly as premier. With his party's victory in 1958, he became premier (1958–59) and stressed social reforms. Buoyed by widespread public reaction against rising neofascist activity, he was returned to the premiership (1960–63) and again promoted a reformist program. He gained Italy's election to the UN Security Council (1958) and served as president of the UN General Assembly in 1965. He again served as premier in 1982–83 and in 1987.