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On May 9, 1978 (45 years ago), the lifeless body of a man was found in a red Renault car in the center of Rome.
The man was Aldo Moro, the president of the Christian Democratic Party, who had been kidnapped by the Red Brigades after 55 days of captivity. This event left an indelible mark on the history of the Italian Republic, an event that still resonates today.
But what happened in those weeks that left Italy in suspense?
On March 16, 1978, Aldo Moro was in Rome, in a blue Fiat. He was accompanied by the carabinieri Domenico Ricci and Oreste Leonardi. Behind them was another car with the other three members of the escort. It was the day of the inauguration of the fourth Andreotti government: after years of negotiations, the executive led by the Christian Democrats had gained the trust of the Communists.
The Kidnapping of Aldo Moro and the Massacre
At that time, the ITALIAN COMMUNIST PARTY (PCI) and the Christian Democrats were the main parties in the country. Winning the trust of the Communists was a historic and much-awaited achievement for the government. But this was not the most important event of the day. On the "Fani" road in the capital, shortly after nine o'clock in the morning, two cars blocked the car carrying Moro and his escort. Four members of the Red Brigades, Valerio Morucci, Raffaele Fiore, Prospero Gallinari, and Franco Bonisoli, opened fire, killing the carabinieri escort. Moro, unhurt, was transferred to the kidnappers' car.