# Francesco Cossiga

_8th President of Italy (1928-2010)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/francesco-cossiga
Last updated: 2026-11-09

> Francesco Maurizio Cossiga was an Italian politician who served as the president of Italy from 1985 to 1992. A member of Christian Democracy, he was Prime Minister of Italy from 1979 to 1980; leading a centre-right government. Cossiga is widely considered one of the most prominent and influential politicians of the First Italian Republic.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 26 July 1928 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Sassari ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P19))
- **Died:** 17 August 2010 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Italy; Kingdom of Italy ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; jurist; university teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P106))
- **Political party:** Christian Democracy (since 1945) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P102))
- **Education:** Liceo classico Domenico Alberto Azuni; University of Sassari; Catholic University of the Sacred Heart ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P69))
- **Spouse:** Giuseppa Sigurani ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P26))
- **Positions held:** member of the Senate of the Italian Republic (29 April 2008 – 17 August 2010); Italian senator for life (28 April 1992 – 17 August 2010); President of Italy (3 July 1985 – 28 April 1992); Substitute President of Italy (25 June 1985 – 3 July 1985); Prime Minister of Italy (4 April 1980 – 18 October 1980); Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs (24 November 1979 – 20 December 1979); Prime Minister of Italy (4 August 1979 – 4 April 1980); member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic (14 June 1979 – 11 July 1983); Italian Minister of the Interior (13 March 1978 – 11 May 1978); Italian Minister of the Interior (30 July 1976 – 13 March 1978); member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic (1 July 1976 – 19 June 1979); Italian Minister of the Interior (12 February 1976 – 30 July 1976); member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic (19 May 1972 – 4 July 1976); member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic (28 May 1968 – 24 May 1972); member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic (8 May 1963 – 4 June 1968); member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic (3 June 1958 – 15 May 1963) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour; Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown; Grand Order of King Tomislav; Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George; Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau; Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog; Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross; Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta; Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia; Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland; Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of Saint John; Order of the Flag of the People's Republic of Hungary ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230#P166))

## Questions

**When was Francesco Cossiga born?**  
Francesco Cossiga was born on 26 July 1928 in Sassari.

**What positions has Francesco Cossiga held?**  
Positions held by Francesco Cossiga include: member of the Senate of the Italian Republic (2008–2010); Italian senator for life (1992–2010); President of Italy (1985–1992); Substitute President of Italy (1985–1985); Prime Minister of Italy (1980–1980).

**Where did Francesco Cossiga study?**  
Francesco Cossiga was educated at Liceo classico Domenico Alberto Azuni, University of Sassari, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Francesco Cossiga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Cossiga) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q1230](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1230) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Cossiga Francesco.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Attribution)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cossiga_Francesco.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Francesco Cossiga, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Cossiga Francesco.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Attribution.

## Cite this page

"Francesco Cossiga". DigiNepal. Last updated 9 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/francesco-cossiga. Retrieved 11 November 2026.