Gianni De Michelis: The Politician Who Loved Art and Power

Gianni De Michelis, a prominent Italian socialist politician and former minister, died in May 2019 at age 78. Known for his love of nightlife and culture, he was a key figure in Italy's First Republic, swept away by the Mani Pulite corruption scandal. Despite numerous charges, most ended in acquittal; he ultimately pleaded guilty to corruption and received a 1.5-year sentence for highway bribes and six months for the Enimont scandal. De Michelis was a cultured man: a chemistry graduate, professor at Padua and Ca' Foscari, and co-owner of Marsilio publishing house. His brother Cesare led the publisher and was vice president of the Venice Biennale. De Michelis signed the Maastricht Treaty, foresaw the migration crisis, and wrote books on geopolitics. He authored the 1988 guide "Dove andiamo a ballare questa sera?" to 250 Italian discos, which inspired an artwork by Goldschmied & Chiari at Museion in 2015 (accidentally cleaned up by staff). He married collector Stefania Tucci in 1997, attended Art Basel and Frieze, served on the board of P.S.1 (before its merger with MoMA) and as a trustee of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, supporting the Bilbao museum and the failed bid for Punta della Dogana (later won by François Pinault). As Labor Minister in 1986, he coined the term "giacimenti culturali" (cultural deposits) for youth employment and cultural heritage digitization. He remained intellectually honest, stating he would "go arm in arm with the devil" to advance his ideas.