New biography chronicles the life of Italian jurist Giuliano Vassalli

Mario Avagliano’s new book, “Giuliano Vassalli. Legge e libertà,” reconstructs the life of Giuliano Vassalli, a central figure in 20th-century Italian history. The biography traces Vassalli’s journey from his imprisonment and torture in the SS via Tasso prison in 1944 to his significant roles in the Resistance, politics, and the judiciary.

The narrative highlights Vassalli’s involvement in the socialist Resistance, including his role in organizing the escape of Sandro Pertini and Giuseppe Saragat from Regina Coeli. It further details his political career, spanning the founding of the Psiup and his tenure as Minister of Justice in 1987, where he oversaw the landmark 1988 criminal procedure code reform.

Additionally, the book covers his contributions to the Italian Republic, including his involvement in efforts to liberate Aldo Moro, the defense of Enzo Tortora, and his leadership as President of the Constitutional Court.