 alessandro fortis (16 september 1842 &ndash; 4 december 1909) was an italian politician who served as the 18th prime minister of italy from 1905 to 1906. he was the first jewish prime minister of italy, the first country to have a jewish person who was not a convert to christianity in that post.braber, this cannot happen here, p. 49 ==early career== fortis was born in forlÃ¬, in emilia-romagna, italy, and became a lawyer. a republican follower of giuseppe mazzini he joined giuseppe garibaldisarti, italy: a reference guide from the renaissance to the present, p. 290 in 1866 and fought with him first in trentino then at mentana and in france.fortis, alessandro, historical dictionary of modern italy after being elected to the chamber of deputies in 1880, fortis initially worked under francesco crispi as under secretary of the interior (1887â1890). he served as agriculture minister from 1898 to 1899 in the first government of luigi pelloux (june 1898âmay 1899). he resigned in 1899 and subsequently joined the liberal opposition of giovanni giolitti, whose liberal reformism was closest to fortisâs own political views that had moderated over time. fortis argued that a view of the state "which abstains from everything, which increasingly reduces its actions and its responsibilities; the state which is feared, rather than appealed to ... is, it seems to me, doomed to die out."ashley, making liberalism work, p. 48 the moderate liberals opposed the repressive measures of pelloux restricting political activity and free speech, and aimed to uphold constitutional liberties. fortis supported the governments of giuseppe zanardelli (february 1901 â november 1903) and giolitti (november 1903 â march 1905). ==prime minister== in march 1905 on the recommendation of giolitti, he formed his first government, mainly related to the nationalization of the railways, after confronting a railroad strike that could have pa
1842_births 1909_deaths Italian_Jews Italian_Ministers_of_the_Interior Jewish_politicians People_from_ForlA! Politicians_of_Emilia-Romagna Prime_Ministers_of_Italy