Nitti, Francesco Saverio (1868–1953)

Italian politician and economist. He was prime minister and minister of the interior 1919–20, during a time of economic and political crisis following World War I. He introduced proportional representation but failed to create a stable coalition government.

A liberal, he lacked the drive to make his basic principles sufficiently felt, and in a sense his indecisive government paved the way for Mussolini, whom Nitti strongly opposed.

Nitti lived in France throughout the dictatorship of Mussolini, and was held prisoner by the Germans 1943–45; after World War II he returned as a leader of the National Democratic Union, but had by then ceased to exercise much political influence. In 1947 he tried and failed to form a government, and subsequently retired from politics.