Rome, 14 January (LaPresse) – Valeria Fedeli, trade unionist and former Minister of Education during the Gentiloni government, died today at the age of 76. Born in Treviglio in 1949, she began her career in the trade union movement, becoming a leading figure in the CGIL, where she held senior positions until becoming general secretary of Filtea-CGIL, the textile and clothing workers' union. In 2012, Fedeli was also vice-president of Federconsumatori. She then devoted herself to politics, being elected senator with the Democratic Party in the 2013 elections, and was subsequently appointed vice-president of the Senate. Between January and February 2015, she temporarily presided over the Senate, taking over from Pietro Grasso. In 2016, she was appointed Minister of Education, Universities and Research. She was married to Achille Passoni, former PD commissioner in Sardinia.