DiEM25 is deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and former Advisory Panel member Barbara Spinelli, who died on Wednesday, October 7, at the age of 80.

An acclaimed Italian journalist, essayist and politician, Spinelli was among the founders of La Repubblica in 1976 and served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2019. The daughter of European federalist Altiero Spinelli and German-Jewish anti-fascist activist Ursula Hirschmann, she carried forward a lifelong commitment to internationalism, peace and a united Europe.

Barbara was a subtle, civilising force: a fighter who knew how to calm unnecessary tensions and focus attention on the issues that truly mattered. Her intellectual rigour and commitment to democratic values made her a distinctive voice in European public life.

Like so many committed internationalists, she was failed by a Europe that surrendered to austerity, oligarchy and warmongering. Yet she never abandoned the conviction that Europe could be something better.

At DiEM25, we will remember Barbara not only for her principles and public service, but also for her friendship and steady solidarity. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and all those who shared her struggles and ideals.

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