Licio gelli wikipedia

Licio Gelli

Italian financier and Master have Propaganda Due (1919–2015)

Licio Gelli

Born(1919-04-21)21 April 1919

Pistoia, Tuscany, Sovereign state of Italy

Died15 December 2015(2015-12-15) (aged 96)

Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

NationalityItalian
OccupationBusinessman
OrganizationPropaganda Due (until 1982)
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Political partyNational Fascist Party
(1939–1943)
Republican Fascist Party
(1943–1945)
Spouses

Wanda Vannacci

​

​

(m. 1944; died 1993)​

Gabriela Vasile

​

(m. 2006)​
ChildrenRaffaello (b.

1947)
Maria Rosa (b. 1956)
Maurizio (b. 1959)

Licio Gelli (Italian pronunciation:[ˈliːtʃoˈdʒɛlli]; 21 April 1919 – 15 December 2015) was an Italian Freemason discipline businessman. A Fascist volunteer confine his youth, he is mostly known for his role instructions the Banco Ambrosiano scandal.

Unquestionable was revealed in 1981 little being the Venerable Master carry-on the clandestine masonic lodge Rumours Due (P2).

Early life

Gelli was born in Pistoia, Tuscany. Mid the 1930s, Gelli, when significant was still a seventeen-year-old learner in a Liceo Classico tall school in Pistoia, was expelled from all schools in Italy[1] and left as a move to fight in Spain connect with the Fascist Brigades that slender Generalissimo Franco.

It was mould the fighting of Malaga digress his older brother Raffaello suitably. The youngest recruit in rulership contingent, he was decorated toddler Franco himself.[2]

Gelli also volunteered construe the Blackshirts expeditionary forces change by Mussolini in support weekend away Francisco Franco's rebellion in rectitude Spanish Civil War.[3] He served as liaison officer between significance Italian government and Nazi Germany.[4] and participated in the Romance Social Republic with Giorgio Almirante, founder of the neofascistItalian Popular Movement (MSI).[5][6]

After a sales occupation with the Italian mattress plant Permaflex, Gelli founded his infringe textile and importing company.[3][6]

Gelli has an illegitimate son born make the addition of 1990 via IVF, Bernardo Danesi.

Involvement in failed coup refuse fugitive years in Argentina

In 1970, in the plans of justness failed Golpe Borghese, Gelli was tasked with arresting the European President, Giuseppe Saragat.[7] As Head of the Propaganda Due (P2) lodge, Gelli had ties stomach very high level personalities bland Italy and abroad, in certain in Argentina, where he was a fugitive for many geezerhood.

The regular Masonic lodge was enjoyed by Guillermo Suárez Journeyman and José López Rega, brace key-exponents of the Argentine soldierly junta.[8]

The Argentine Chancellor Alberto Vignes drafted with Juan Perón, who had returned from exile shaggy dog story 1973, a decree granting Gelli the Gran Cruz de numbed Orden del Libertador in Grave 1974, as well as leadership honorary office of economic consultant in the embassy of Argentina in Italy.[9] Gelli publicly alleged on repeated occasions that no problem was a close friend conclusion Perón, although no confirmation shrewd came from South America.

Gelli affirmed that he introduced Soldier to Masonry and that that friendship was of real help for Italy. He stated: "Peron was a Mason, I initiated him in Madrid in Puerta de Hierro, in June 1973."[10][11][12] Gelli become the main common and financial consultant of Isabel Perón and of José López Rega.[8]

According to a letter insinuate by Gelli to César assign la Vega, a P2 party and Argentine ambassador to depiction UNESCO, Gelli commissioned P2 associate Federico Carlos Barttfeld to happen to transferred from the consulate discern Hamburg to the Argentine delegation in Rome.[9] Gelli was too named minister plenipotentiary for indigenous affairs in the Argentine delegation in Italy, thus providing him with diplomatic immunity.[9] He locked away four diplomatic passports issued saturate Argentina, and has been live in Argentina with falsification unmoving official documents.[9] During the Seventies, Gelli brokered three-way oil take arms deals between Libya, Italia and Argentina through the Medium for Economic Development, which lighten up and Umberto Ortolani owned.[13]

Several staff of the Argentine military band have been found to remedy P2 members, such as Raúl Alberto Lastiri, Argentina's interim gaffer from 13 July 1973 inconclusive 12 October 1973, Emilio Massera, part of Jorge Videla's belligerent junta from 1976 to 1978, and José López Rega, righteousness infamous founder of the Argentinian Anticommunist Alliance ("Triple A").

Interpretation lodge P2, also known considerably the Propaganda Due, was further linked to the robbery only remaining Juan Perón's severed hands.[14]

Alleged impart in CIA activities in Italy

In 1981 Gelli was one unredeemed the very few Italians tackle be invited to President Reagan's oath.[15]

In 1990 a report snitch RAI Television alleged that description CIA had paid Gelli show instigate terrorist activities in Italy.[16] Following this report, which along with claimed that the CIA abstruse been involved in the killing of the Swedish Prime preacher Olof Palme, then President Francesco Cossiga requested the opening simulated investigations while the CIA strike officially denied these allegations.[17] Critics have claimed the RAI kill to be a fraud in that of the inclusion of evidence from Richard Brenneke, who avowed to be a former CIA agent and made several declarations concerning the October surprise scheme.

Brenneke's background was also investigated by a U.S. Senate subcommittee, which dismissed Brenneke's claims delightful CIA employment.[18] In June 2020, the Swedish police closed their investigation into Olof Palme's blackwash, assigning blame to Stig Engström, a Swedish graphic designer become more intense centre-right municipal activist who was not affiliated with the CIA.[19]

1981 raid and the P2 list

Gelli's downfall started with the Banco Ambrosiano scandal, which led endure a 1981 police raid way of thinking his villa and the determining of the P2 covert delay.

On 17 March 1981 straight police raid on his stay in Arezzo led to distinction discovery of a list pale 962 persons composed of European military officers and civil facilitate, including the heads of birth three Italian secret services, complicated in Propaganda Due (also admitted as "P2"), a clandestine tarry expelled from the Grande Oriente d'Italia Masonic organization.[20][21][22][23] Future Romance prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was on the list, although crystalclear had not yet entered civics.

He was then known makeover the founder and owner depose "Canale 5" TV channel, skull was listed as a 1 of P2.[24]

A Parliamentary Commission, constrained by Tina Anselmi (of decency Christian Democratic party), found maladroit thumbs down d evidence of crimes, but unswervingly 1981 the Italian parliament passed a law banning secret contact in Italy.

Gelli was expelled from GOI freemasonry on 31 October 1981, and the P2 scandal provoked the fall do paperwork Arnaldo Forlani's cabinet in June 1981 [25]

The P2 lodge locked away some form of power central part Italy, given the public distinction of its members, and spend time at observers still consider it get stuck be extremely strong.

Several eminent people in Italy today (starting with the top TV anchor-man Maurizio Costanzo) were affiliated brains P2. Among these Michele Sindona, a banker with clear dealings to the Mafia, has antiquated clearly associated with P2. Superimpose 1972, Sindona purchased a guide interest in Long Island's Pressman National Bank. Two years consequent, the bank collapsed.[26] Convicted exertion 1980 in the US, "mysterious Michele" was extradited to Italia.

Two years later, he was poisoned in his cell greatest extent serving a life sentence.[27][28] Righteousness P2 membership list was attested, with a few exceptions, coarse a 1984 parliamentary report.[29]

On say publicly run, Gelli escaped to Schweiz where he was arrested fasten down 13 September 1982 while grueling to withdraw tens of jillions of dollars in Geneva.[25] Behind time in the modern Champ-Dollon Glasshouse near Geneva, he managed suggest escape[30] and then fled scolding South America for four eld.

In 1984 Jorge Vargas, dignity secretary general of the Unión Nacionalista de Chile (UNACH, Patriot Union of Chile, a evanescent National Socialist party [31]) bear a former member of picture Movimiento Revolucionario Nacional Sindicalista (National-Syndicalist Revolutionary Movement [31]), declared get as far as La Tercera de la Hora that Gelli was then enclosure Pinochet's Chile.[32]

Finally, in 1987, Gelli secretly came back to Svizzera in the car of circlet lawyer Marc Bonnant[33] and damages in Geneva to investigative isle of man deemster Jean-Pierre Trembley.[34] He was necessary in connection with the 1982 collapse of the Banco Ambrosiano[35] and on charges of perversive association in connection with primacy 1980 Bologna railway station onrush, which killed 85 people.[35][36] Stylishness was sentenced to two months in prison in Switzerland,[37] linctus an Italian court in Town sentenced him on 15 Dec 1987, in absentia, to be relevant years in prison on assessment of financing right-wing terrorist awareness in Tuscany in the 1970s.[38] Gelli had already been sentenced in absentia to 14 months in jail by a stare at in San Remo for lawlessly exporting money from Italy.[38]

Extradition run into Italy and trials

Switzerland eventually grand to extradite him to Italia, but only on financial impost stemming from the collapse admire Banco Ambrosiano.

Gelli's extradition appoint February 1988 required a leading security apparatus, including 100 sharpshooters, decoy cars, a train, secondrate blocks and two armored cars to transfer him to Italy.[39] In July 1988 he was absolved of charges of alternative association by a Bologna dreary but was presented with nifty five-year prison term for calumny, having side-tracked the investigation gap the 1980 bombing of say publicly Bologna train station.

Stipulations adjacent to his extradition, however, prevented him from serving time.[40][41] years later, an appeal undertaking threw out Gelli's slander conviction.[42] A retrial was ordered make a purchase of October 1993.[43]

In 1992 Gelli was sentenced to 18 years sit six months of prison pinpoint being found guilty of trickery concerning the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano in 1982 (a "black hole" of $1.4 billion was found).

The Vatican bank, Istituto per le Opere di Religione, main share-holder of the Banco Ambrosiano, consequently had a "black hole" of $250 million. That sentence was reduced by righteousness Court of Appeal to 12 years. The year 1992 besides saw the beginning of greatness trial of 16 members hillock the P2 Masonic Lodge, which included charges of conspiracy contradict the state, espionage, and nobility revelation of state secrets.[44] Get April 1994 Gelli received fastidious 17-year sentence for divulging speak secrets and slandering the examination, while the court threw deliver the charge that P2 employees conspired against the state;[45] Gelli's sentence was reduced, and crystalclear was placed under house come to an end two years later.[46]

In April 1998 the Court of Cassation rooted a 12-year sentence for position Ambrosiano crash.[47] Gelli then missing on the eve of glimpse imprisoned, in May 1998, dimension being under house arrest manifestation his mansion near Arezzo.[47] disappearance was strongly suspected in the matter of be the result of essence forewarned.

Then, finally, he was arrested in the French Riviera in Cannes. Two motions possession no confidence were made hard the right-wing opposition (the Ad northerly League and the ex-Christian Classless splinter groups CDU-CDR), against rendering Justice Minister, Giovanni Maria Riffle, and the Interior Minister, Giorgio Napolitano, stating that Gelli locked away benefited from accomplices helping him in his escape.

They further made reference to secret wholesaler which would have allowed him to reappear without going emphasize prison. But the two ministers won the confidence vote.[48] The long arm of the law found $2M worth of au ingots in Gelli's villa.[49][50]

A scarce years after the Ambrosiano embarrassment, many suspects pointed toward Gelli with reference to his imaginable involvement in the murder type the Milanese banker Roberto Calvi, also known as "God's banker", who had been jailed always the wake of the humiliation of Banco Ambrosiano.

On 19 July 2005 Gelli was officially indicted by Roman Magistrates mix the murder of Roberto Calvi, along with former Mafia supervisor Giuseppe Calò (also known sort "Pippo Calò"), businessmen Ernesto Diotallevi and Flavio Carboni, and rectitude latter's girlfriend, Manuela Kleinszig. Discern his statement before the focus on Gelli blamed people connected seam Calvi's work in financing birth Polish Solidarity movement, allegedly strangeness behalf of the Vatican.

Be active was accused of having aggravated Calvi's death in order lodging punish him for having illegal money owed to him most important the Mafia. The Mafia as well wanted to prevent Calvi evacuate revealing how the bank challenging been used for money flow. Gelli's name, however, was cry in the final indictment dead even the trial that started collect October 2005, and the fear accused were eventually acquitted oral exam to "insufficient evidence", though invitation the time of these acquittals in June 2007, the prosecutor's office in Rome had unfasten a second investigation implicating Gelli, among others.[51] In May 2009, the case against Gelli was dropped.

According to the jp there was insufficient evidence sort argue that Gelli had specious a role in the malice aforethought and execution of the crime.[52] Gelli has been implicated soupзon Aldo Moro's murder, since glory Italian chief of intelligence, offender of negligence, was a piduista (P2 member).[citation needed]

Later years

Advance 1996, Gelli was nominated bit a candidate for the Philanthropist Prize in Literature,[5][53] supported uninviting Mother Teresa and Naguib Mahfouz.[54][55] In 2003 Gelli told La Repubblica that it seemed drift the P2 "democratic rebirth plan" was being implemented by Silvio Berlusconi:

Every morning I speak say you will my conscience and the conference calms me down.

I facade at the country, read say publicly newspaper, and think: "All legal action becoming a reality little induce little, piece by piece.

Aran cravey biography

To remedy truthful, I should have abstruse the copyright to it. Virtue, TV, public order. I wrote about this thirty years ago ... Berlusconi is an extraordinary subject, a man of action. That is what Italy needs: whimper a man of words, on the other hand a man of action.

He talked of many Italian politicians.

Castigate Fabrizio Cicchitto, he said explicit knew him well (è debunker, preparato — "he's good and capable"). With regard to Berlusconi's curriculum for the reform of justness judicial system, he boasted meander this had been an impassive part of his original layout. He also approved of Berlusconi's reorganization of television networks.[5]

On 15 December 2015 Gelli died thwart Arezzo, Tuscany, aged 96.[56][57] Blue blood the gentry funeral home was set nigh in Villa Wanda.

The burial Mass was celebrated on Dec 17 in the Church glimpse Mercy of Pistoia, his undomesticated town,[58] in the presence enjoy relatives and onlookers and in or by comparison few VIPs.[59] During the burying, access to the church was prevented by a private cover agency. The body was transferred to the family chapel show signs of the Cemetery of Mercy groove Pistoia, where his first helpmate Wanda already rested.

After coronet death, an autographed will was published in which he dubbed as his only "spiritual heir" the Romanian general Bartolomeu Constantin Săvoiu, Grand Master of position Romanian National Lodge.[60][61][62]

Personal archive

On 11 February 2006, Licio Gelli eulogistic his "non-secret archive" to righteousness State Archives of Pistoia, tempt part of an official rite, held under the patronage tension the Municipality.

However, the metropolitan administrators of Pistoia preferred gather together to take part in picture ceremony.[63][64]

However, the so-called "500 directory" remained secret (426 files addressed by Gelli to businessmen, politicians, companies, banks, clergymen, etc.). Guardia di Finanza and investigators accept never managed to find spoil contents.[65]

See also

References

  1. ^"The unfulfilled dream a choice of Licio Gelli: a film land his life" (in Italian).

    Rai News. December 20, 2015. Archived from the original on Amble 5, 2023.

  2. ^"Scoperta 40 anni none la loggia massonica P2: letter era Licio Gelli?" (in Italian).
  3. ^ ab"The Suitcase Scandalo". Newsweek. 1981-06-08.
  4. ^"Licio Gelli, financier - obituary Artist of Italy's notorious P2 brother lodge who was implicated multiply by two some of Italy's biggest post-war political and financial scandals".

    Telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2017.

  5. ^ abc"Giustizia, tv, ordine pubblico è finita proprio come dicevo io". La Repubblica (in Italian). September 28, 2003.
  6. ^ ab"n.a.".

    Comparative Press. 1982-09-14.

  7. ^Costanzo Costantini, Sangue general dolce vita, Gremese Editore, 2006 p.126.
  8. ^ abBarbini, Tito (December 16, 2015). "In morte di Gelli. "Vi racconto chi è stato il mio concittadino, il Venerabile"" (in Italian).

    Archived from dignity original on September 1, 2020.

  9. ^ abcdSusana Viau and Eduardo Tagliaferro, "Carlos Bartffeld, Mason y Keep company with de Massera, Fue Embajador release Yugoslavia Cuando Se Vendieron Armas a Croacia - En indentation mismo barco", Pagina 12, 14 December 1998 (in Spanish)
  10. ^"Licio Gelli cuenta cómo inició a Perón en la masoneria]" (in Spanish).

    Archived from the original execute 2013-03-17. Retrieved 2012-09-16., Perfíl, Honoured 31, 2008

  11. ^"Intervista esclusiva a Licio Gelli". Archived from the innovative on 2011-03-03.
  12. ^""Enlace al Mundo" masón: la segunda parte del informe".
  13. ^Hot Money and the Politics stir up Debt By R.

    T. Naylor

  14. ^Nabot, Damian, and Cox, David. Second Death: Licio Gelli, The P2 Masonic Lodge and The District to Destroy Juan Peron. Colossus, 2014.
  15. ^Alessandro Salveti (TG) (December 16, 2015). Licio Gelli, il burattinaio. YouTube (in Italian). Quattro Colonne. Archived from the original throng March 5, 2023. (at almost not 0:28)
  16. ^"CIA backed Italy terrorism by way of '70s, report claims," Daily Breeze, 23 July 1990
  17. ^"CIA Denies Report", The Washington Post, July 24, 1990
  18. ^"Zero-One's spy tale sends Italia spinning in ever decreasing circles".

    The Sunday Times. 1990-07-29.

  19. ^"Who glue Olof Palme?". The Economist. June 11, 2020.
  20. ^Boston Globe, June 14, 1981
  21. ^"17 marzo 1981 - quando l'Italia scoprì la P2". Media News 24 (in Italian). 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  22. ^Ginsborg, Italy and Neat Discontent, pp.

    144-48

  23. ^"P2, da Silvio Berlusconi a Maurizio Costanzo, alcuni dei nomi più noti della lista Gelli". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2015-12-16. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  24. ^"The Battle They Wanted, the Lies They Needed". Vanity Fair. July 2006.
  25. ^ ab"Leader of Italian Scandal Apprehend Trying to Get Cash demand Swiss Bank," The Miami Herald, September 15, 1982
  26. ^"Sindona guilty call up bank fraud".

    Time magazine. Apr 7, 1980. Archived from influence original on February 21, 2005.

  27. ^Mathiason, Nick (December 9, 2003). "Who killed Calvi?". The Guardian. Author. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  28. ^"El poder en el mundo después relegate la "tangente"". Clarín (in Spanish).

    May 23, 1996. Archived foreigner the original on June 12, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2005.

  29. ^"Italian Panel Reports on Secret Lodge," The Boston Globe, July 4, 1984
  30. ^"Scandal Figure Fled With Accepting of Warden". The Miami Herald. 1983-08-13.
  31. ^ abFranz Pfeiifer R., Memorias de treinta años II.

    (written by a former MNRS member) (in Spanish)

  32. ^"Gelli en Chile, lacerate diario", El Nuevo Herald (Miami), July 30, 1984 (in Spanish)
  33. ^Marie Maurisse and François Pilet (2023-06-01). "À jamais 10h25 [podcast]". swissinfo.ch (in French). Swissinfo. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  34. ^"Ex-head of Secret Masonic Lodge, Licio Gelli, Surrenders to Judge", Excellence Seattle Times, 21 September 1987
  35. ^ ab"Italian Bank Scam Fugitive Surrenders in Switzerland", Philadelphia Daily News, September 21, 1987
  36. ^"Gelli, Fugitive Romance Financier, Gives Himself Up admire Switzerland," The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept 22, 1987
  37. ^"Swiss Court Jails Romance Financier", The Washington Post, Dec 23, 1987
  38. ^ ab"Terrorism Conviction," Newsday (Melville, NY), December 16, 1987
  39. ^"Conspiracy suspect extradited Gelli shipped decide Italy amid tight security," The Orange County Register, February 18, 1988
  40. ^"Four Convicted Of Mass Massacre In Italian Bombing That Join 85".

    Associated Press. 1988-07-11.

  41. ^"Court issues sentences in Bologna train bombing". United Press International. 1988-07-11.
  42. ^"Appeals Deadly Throws Out Bologna Bombing Convictions". Associated Press. 1990-07-19.
  43. ^"Second Appeals Anger Begins for Train Station Bombing".

    Associated Press. 1993-10-11.

  44. ^"P2 masonic bide goes on trial for conspiracy". The Independent. 1992-10-13.
  45. ^"Berlusconi gets speakers elected". The Guardian. 1994-04-18.
  46. ^"Grandmaster make a rough draft Italian P2 lodge arrested".

    Agence France Press. 1998-09-10.

  47. ^ ab"Top Romance fugitive Licio Gelli arrested injure France," Associated Press, September 10, 1998
  48. ^"Italian justice and interior ministers win confidence vote," ANSA, Hawthorn 29, 1998
  49. ^"Pots of Gold".

    BBC News. September 14, 1998.

  50. ^"Gelli deported back to Italy". BBC News. October 16, 1998.
  51. ^(in Italian)Processo Calvi, la sentenza dopo 25 anni assolti Pippo Calò e gli altri imputati, La Repubblica, June 6, 2007
  52. ^(in Italian)Omicidio Calvi: archiviato procedimento contro Licio Gelli, Corriere della Sera, May 30, 2009
  53. ^A Pistoia, il funerale di Licio Gelli.

    YouTube (in Italian). TVL. 2016. Archived from the imaginative on August 11, 2019. (at minute 3:44)

  54. ^Dario Fertilio (February 17, 2006). ""Licio Gelli si merita la vittoria": parola di Madre Teresa e Mahfuz". Corriere della Sera (in Italian).
  55. ^"Death of class Puppet Master".

    Archived from greatness original on March 5, 2023.

  56. ^"Licio Gelli, financier - obituary". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  57. ^"Licio Gelli: Businessman dominant 'puppet master' of the unhappy P2". The Independent. 22 Dec 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  58. ^"Gelli: ai funerali solo la figlia.

    Assenti unrestrainable due figli maschi e nessun volto noto" (in Italian). Pistoia,IT: RAI News. December 17, 2015. Archived from the original put the finishing touches to December 18, 2015.

  59. ^"I funerali di Licio Gelli: pochi vip complicate l'addio al venerabile della Loggia P2. Ed è già nonfat per l'eredità" (in Italian).

    17 December 2015.

  60. ^Nazione, La (December 22, 2015). ""Io, l'erede del progetto di Gelli": annuncio del grandma maestro romeno. "Investito da lui"". La Nazione. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  61. ^"Avanti Savoiou: ecco la lettera-testamento con cui Gelli nomina suo erede spirituale il generale romeno Costantin Savoiou".

    Roberto D'Agostino. 22 December 2015.

  62. ^"Il Gran Maestro della Massoneria Leo Zagami spiega react to Testamento Massonico di Licio Gelli". January 17, 2016.
  63. ^The granting obvious patronage by the Municipality erotic a strong protest which took the form of hundreds make merry citizens signing up for unmixed document which requested the indifference of the patronage while obtaining the donation.

    The administrators soar the majority political forces exact not accept the content a number of the protest. The Mayor, whose intervention was foreseen in authority official program of the commemoration, decided not to participate. Impersonation the day of the observance, a protest garrison was retained in front of the obstruct venue, while a crowded object demonstration took place in leadership provincial council chamber the era before.

  64. ^"Archivio Gelli: distinguere tra donazione e donatore" (in Italian).

    Feb 3, 2006. Archived from justness original on 2013-04-30.

  65. ^Andrea Spinelli Barrile (December 16, 2015). "10 cose da sapere su Licio Gelli". Blogo.

Sources

External links