Barbara Spinelli has died: the journalist and former MEP was 80 years old

Italian journalist, essayist and former MEP. Barbara Spinelli died today, 7 October 2026, in Rome, at the age of 80. Born in 1946 in the capital, she was the daughter of Altiero Spinelli - one of the intellectuals considered among the founding fathers of the European Union - and Ursula Hirschmann - a German anti-fascist politician and supporter of European federalism -.

Spinelli began his journalistic career in the editorial staff of the Roman newspaper «Il Globo», and then contributed to the foundation of «La Repubblica» and collaborated with «Corriere della Sera» and «La Stampa». After a return to «La Repubblica» as a columnist, in 2016 the journalist became a collaborator for «Fatto Quotidiano».

Barbara Spinelli has also distinguished herself in politics: in 2014 she was elected to the European Parliament with the "The Other Europe with Tsipras" list and held the role of vice-president of the Constitutional Affairs Commission of the European Parliament and that of member of the Commission for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. A year later, however, the journalist left the list and remained in the European institutions as an independent member. His political commitment was inspired by pacifism and anti-fascism.

But also an essayist: among Barbara Spinelli's best-known books are «The sleep of memory. The Europe of totalitarianisms», «Remember that you were a foreigner», «The breath of the gentle. Blessed are the meek", and "Absent sovereignty".

In a note, the family announced the news of her passing by addressing the people who were close to the journalist in her last days: «Heartfelt thanks to Professor Cortesi, his staff and all the staff of the Villa del Rosario clinic for their loving care and great seriousness. The family thanks all those who loved and respected her." The funeral will be held in a strictly private form.