President Sergio Mattarella on
Monday led the tributes to great Italian journalist Giampaolo
Pansa, who died on Sunday at the age of 84.
During his long career writing for Italian dailies and as the
author of many books, Pansa highlighted the virtues and vices of
Italy's society and its political class, often taking stances
that went against the tide.
Indeed, a 2003 essay on the crimes committed by Partisans
after 1945 led to him being accused of revisionism.
"Giampaolo Pansa was an absolutely original intellectual,"
Mattarella said in a statement.
"His talent and his independence of judgement made him an
indisputed protagonist of contemporary journalism.
"His passing leaves a vacuum in our country's public debate
that will be difficult to fill".
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