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The battles for abortion and women's reproductive health, like so many others, were embraced "body and soul." The adventure in Europe, vacations together, moments of private life and political activism. "When I think of Emma Bonino, it's the amount of time we spent together that impresses me," shared time. "Practically my entire political life." Over 50 years have passed since the first meeting between Mirella Parachini, gynecologist, longtime companion of Radical leader Marco Pannella, deputy secretary of the Luca Coscioni Association, and Emma Bonino.
"Today I'm 72 years old. I started dating Marco when I was 19, and I met Emma right at the beginning. I still remember her when she first came to my house with Adele Faccio," also a champion of women's self-determination. "She was a 'big character,' the Emma she always was. She was young, very convinced" of the values she upheld, "even with some rough edges, always very rich," Parachini told Adnkronos Salute on the day Italy bids farewell to the founder of +Europa, 78, the soul of Italian liberal radicalism.
“She also recalled that 'Roman landing.' Adele Faccio and I had made a long journey from Milan. It struck me. Also because of her non-hostile or separatist feminism. For me, Emma is many things, a blend of the private and the public, of personal memories and political moments.” Always face to face with history.
And today, in a difficult moment for civil rights, tested and undermined in many corners of the planet, from the recent crackdown on abortion in the US to the wars, "what will be missed most about her is a bit in the history of the Radical Party: that non-violent, civil disobedient approach" with which she led battles, "and which is now perhaps less recognized in the antagonists of the forces that oppose the defense of rights," he reflects. "Let's remember that Emma turned herself in, went to jail" for the legalization of abortion, "as did Gianfranco Spadaccia and Adele Faccio.
These are things we mustn't forget. Because it's true that many factors coincided in getting Law 194 passed in our country, from the commitment of L'Espresso, with its explosive January 1975 cover (a pregnant woman on the cross), "to the feminist movements, to civil disobedience. But there were people like Emma Bonino who went to prison," personally exposing themselves. "It's important that she be given this recognition."
When talking about abortion, memories go back to 2000, the year that coincided with the launch of Parachini's international commitment to women's reproductive health. "Bonino said to me, 'Do you know a good gynecologist who can go to a conference in Paris?'" The topic was abortion. "I thought about it first, and then I said, 'Why don't I go?' Since then, I've been a member of this international federation," FIAPAC (International Federation of Abortion and Contraception Providers), "of which I was also president."
Emma's, he reflects, "was truly a fantastic world, and she always occupied positions of dialogue with history, even at the international level." And so here's another memory: Strasbourg, 1979, the year the Radical Party won its first seats in the European Parliament, elected by universal suffrage. "I accompanied Marco." At the European Parliament, "they gave us a room, like all the others. And it was empty, just a table with some chairs on it. And there Emma immediately took charge. Marco didn't speak English (only French), but she did. I remember her with Otto of Habsburg, with Simone Veil." Parachini also relives funny moments, always linked to Pannella's 'linguistic gap.' "They told me about Marco's trip to New York. Emma had arranged for him to be taken to the airport, then from one place to another, and there was a whole series of comical mix-ups."
Her hallmark has always been openness and dialogue, she assures, "even when she served as Minister" of Foreign Affairs "and especially as Commissioner. What I want to remember about her is the fusion of militant and institutional commitment," often difficult to achieve. "Because usually," when the role becomes institutional, "one's whole attitude changes, whereas she has always remained true to herself. And even in recent years, when I shared personal moments with her, and even vacations (I remember one in particular to Circeo), she was always herself, maintaining her international relationships, her connections, it was extremely inspiring to be around her."
A photo shows Parachini and Bonino embracing in 2016, on the day of Marco Pannella's farewell ceremony. A shared loss. "Emma was close to me, even in unexpected ways," he confesses. "There were so many people there, but I felt her deeply. Not only in Piazza Navona, but also in that moment of recollection at the Radical Party, on Via di Torre Argentina in Rome." "And, again, I remember her by my side in Teramo," where Pannella was buried. And before that, in that final farewell "at the Chamber of Deputies. I went there with her, feeling supported; it wasn't a given. Emma was there, every moment. I remember her when Adelaide Aglietta was commemorated," who was secretary of the Radical Party. "She was a constant presence for 50 years, always involved, also close to the Luca Coscioni Association." The connection remained even in recent times, a thread that never broke. "She wanted to come to the 10th anniversary celebration of Pannella's death in the Chamber of Deputies on May 19th, but she couldn't make it," Parachini explains. "But she would have loved to be there. And once again, I felt close to her. Once again."
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