He was 76 years old

Valeria Fedeli, former Education Minister and trade unionist, has died

An inexorable and ferocious evil took her away

14 January 2026

L’ex ministro dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca, Valeria Fedeli, durante la presentazione del programma ''#Maipiùbullismo'' in onda su Rai2 dal 10 gennaio 2018. Ansa /Ettore Ferrari

3' min read

Translated by AI

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Key points

She was 76 years old
She was called into government by Gentiloni
Mattarella, from Fedeli civil passion, capacity for dialogue, high sense of institutions
Meloni, lived his political commitment with passion
Schlein, great loss, we are grateful for her battles
Valditara, condolences for the passing
Gentiloni, courageous woman, battler, capable of dialogue
La Russa, very sorry
Renzi, intelligent and sensitive
Fassino: an inexorable evil has taken her away

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Valeria Fedeli, former trade unionist, PD senator and Minister of Education with the Gentiloni government, has died at the age of 76.

He was 76 years old

Valeria Fedeli was born in Treviglio in '49 and started her career in the CGIL, later becoming a trade union leader. She arrived in politics in 2013, in the Senate with the PD, and was also appointed vice president at Palazzo Madama.

She was called to the government by Gentiloni

She was called to the government by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, entrusting her with the Ministry of Education in 2016. Then again in the Senate in 2018, again with the PD. Always at the forefront of feminist battles, she was among the founders of the 'If not now, when?' movement. Famous was her request to a journalist to be called minister and not minister, on the occasion of the press conference for the final launch of the implementation decrees of the Good School. Her interventions for the school world are worth remembering. With her there was the renewal of the teachers' labour contract and a push for school work. She considered the relationship between school and work as an extra training opportunity for students: she promoted the general states of alternating school and work.

Mattarella, from Fedeli civil passion, capacity for dialogue, high sense of institutions

"Her long commitment to trade unions and politics, with constant attention to the goals of equality between women and men, was always characterised by civil passion, capacity for dialogue and a high sense of the institutions, which she also demonstrated as Minister of Education and Vice-President of the Senate," stressed President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, in a statement expressing his condolences for the passing of Valeria Fedeli.

Meloni, lived his political commitment with passion

"The news of Valeria Fedeli's death strikes and pains. She always lived her commitment in politics, in the world of education and trade unionism with conviction and passion. My most sincere condolences go to her family and to those who loved her in this moment of grief," Premier Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media

Schlein, great loss, we are grateful for her battles

"The passing away of Valeria Fedeli is a great sorrow and a huge loss for the entire democratic community. Throughout her life as a politician, education minister, trade unionist and feminist, she gave us an irreplaceable contribution of commitment, rare depth and great intelligence. She fought to the last for equality, for the dignity of work and for full gender equality, for the constitutional principles that always inspired both her political militancy and her significant institutional work. We must all be grateful to her for her passionate and tireless commitment, which will continue to inspire us and which we will carry forward'. Thus PD secretary Elly Schlein.

Valditara, condolences for passing away

'I express my condolences for the passing of Valeria Fedeli, former Minister of Education, University and Research. I send my heartfelt condolences to her family, in memory of her passionate and sincere commitment'. Thus the Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara.

Gentiloni, courageous woman, battler, capable of dialogue

"Valeria Fedeli, a trade union leader, senator, and valiant minister in the government I presided over, has passed away at the age of 76. A courageous, combative woman, capable of dialogue. A hug to Achilles. May she rest in peace,' former Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni wrote on social media.

La Russa, very sorry

"I learned with great sorrow the news of the passing of Valeria Fedeli, Minister of Education during the Gentiloni government, Vice-President of the Senate, trade unionist and party leader. To her family and loved ones, we send our heartfelt condolences from the Senate of the Republic,' said Ignazio La Russa, President of the Senate of the Republic.

Renzi, intelligent and sensitive

"I remember Valeria Fedeli as an intelligent, sensitive and very lucid woman. And I personally remember the affection with which she accompanied me both in the years of government, when she was vice president of the Senate, and in recent years. It was easy to love her and it was nice to do so,' says Matteo Renzi.

Femminicidio, Fedeli (Pd): ripartire da legge su "Buona scuola"

Fassino: an inexorable evil has taken her away

"An inexorable and ferocious evil has taken Valeria Fedeli from us. For many years a prestigious national leader of the CGIL and the European textile union, then Vice-President of the Senate and Minister of Education, Universities and Research. A courageous woman, always in the forefront of every battle for the affirmation of workers', women's, young people's and citizens' rights, she believed in a reformist left capable of expressing a culture of government," wrote PD deputy Piero Fassino on social media. "We will miss her and we will always remember with gratitude her intellectual lucidity, her civil passion, her generosity," he added, "to Achille and her loved ones the most affectionate closeness in these hours of inconsolable grief.