Thousands gather in Rome to honor former minister Emma Bonino before state funeral

On Monday, crowds gathered at Rome city hall to honor Emma Bonino, the 78-year-old civil-rights campaigner who passed away the previous week. The former foreign minister and ex-European Commissioner lay in state, with her casket draped in the EU flag, symbolising her tenure as Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection from 1995 to 1999. Visitors marked the first day of a two-day public viewing that began on Sunday, and thousands paid their respects.

Bonino, a prominent member of the Radical party, had spearheaded campaigns for divorce and abortion in the 1970s and later helped found the More Europe political alliance. She also served as minister for trade and European affairs under Romano Prodi (2006-2008) and as foreign minister under Enrico Letta (2013-2014). A state funeral will be held at the city hall on Tuesday.