Italy holds State funeral for Emma Bonino with Mattarella and Meloni attending

State funeral at Rome City Hall

The secular state funeral for Emma Bonino began at 12:30 on Tuesday in the Sala della Protomoteca at Rome City Hall on the Capitoline Hill. Bonino, who died on Friday at the age of 78, was honored by political leaders across party lines. President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Giorgia Meloni attended in the front row of the crowded hall, which holds approximately 200 people. Other senior officials in attendance included Senate President Ignazio La Russa, Chamber of Deputies Vice President Giorgio Mulè, Constitutional Court President Giovanni Amoroso, Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, and Lazio Region President Francesco Rocca. Bonino's coffin was draped with the blue European flag bearing twelve golden stars. A giant screen was set up in the Capitoline square outside to allow members of the public to follow the service, which was also broadcast live on Rai television.

Tributes from colleagues and civil rights advocates

The memorial ceremony opened with remarks from Carla Taibi, Bonino's personal assistant and long-time friend. Taibi reflected on Bonino's collaboration with Radical leader Marco Pannella and her enduring focus on European federalism.

“Emma never thought she was alone, but always recognized the role of Marco Pannella and Radical politics. She thought of the United States of Europe as the only possible destiny for people and their freedoms. The best way to remember her is to hold her battles together.”

Filomena Gallo of the Luca Coscioni Association addressed Bonino's commitment to international justice, warning that institutions like the International Criminal Court face mounting pressures. Riccardo Magi, the secretary of +Europa, noted that Bonino combined civil disobedience against unjust laws with deep respect for institutional norms. Magi emphasized that her drive to improve democratic systems extended from national referendums to global human rights bodies.

Reflections from former prime ministers

The ceremony concluded with addresses by two former Italian prime ministers under whom Bonino had served in cabinet positions. Romano Prodi, who appointed Bonino as minister for trade and European affairs from 2006 to 2008, spoke about their joint work opposing capital punishment and landmines.

“We didn't always agree with everything, but her fight for the weak and defenceless was her guiding star and a lesson for all of us. A battle that Emma carried forward with unparalleled strength and determination.”

Enrico Letta, who named Bonino as Italian foreign minister in 2013, spoke about her connection with younger generations and her focus on future policies rather than past victories. Letta noted that her political agenda spanned from early referendums to the project of a united Europe and unwavering support for Ukraine during international crises.

Decades of institutional and activist leadership

Bonino's public career began with the Italian Radical Party in the 1970s, when she led national campaigns that established legal access to divorce and abortion. She later represented Italy internationally, serving as European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection between 1995 and 1999. In Italian government, she managed European integration and trade portfolios before leading the foreign ministry from 2013 to 2014. At the conclusion of the ceremony, President Mattarella joined Bonino's family and state dignitaries to escort the coffin from the Capitoline Hill.