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Profile: Italy's Enrico Letta Profile: Italy's Enrico Letta
(about 1 hour later)
Tasked by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano with forming a government, Enrico Letta is a centrist thought to have as good a chance as anyone of winning the support for a broad-based coalition.Tasked by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano with forming a government, Enrico Letta is a centrist thought to have as good a chance as anyone of winning the support for a broad-based coalition.
A Europhile on the moderate side of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), he started his political career with the centre-right Christian Democrat party that had dominated Italian politics in the post-war era.A Europhile on the moderate side of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), he started his political career with the centre-right Christian Democrat party that had dominated Italian politics in the post-war era.
His uncle is Gianni Letta, the chief political fixer of former centre-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.His uncle is Gianni Letta, the chief political fixer of former centre-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
In a country distinguished by its ageing political class, Mr Letta's political rise was precocious. Now aged 46, he has already served in three centre-left governments.In a country distinguished by its ageing political class, Mr Letta's political rise was precocious. Now aged 46, he has already served in three centre-left governments.
But he has come unexpectedly to the fore at a time of extreme political turbulence.But he has come unexpectedly to the fore at a time of extreme political turbulence.
Former PD leader Pier Luigi Bersani resigned after failing form a centre-left coalition off the back of a weak performance in February's elections, and then proving unable to push through his chosen candidate for the presidency.Former PD leader Pier Luigi Bersani resigned after failing form a centre-left coalition off the back of a weak performance in February's elections, and then proving unable to push through his chosen candidate for the presidency.
With no clear way forward, Mr Napolitano was re-elected for an unprecedented second seven-year term at the age of 87.With no clear way forward, Mr Napolitano was re-elected for an unprecedented second seven-year term at the age of 87.
'Italians fed up''Italians fed up'
"My big task will be to make sure that from this affair we can get a different Italian politics with institutional reforms," Mr Letta has said."My big task will be to make sure that from this affair we can get a different Italian politics with institutional reforms," Mr Letta has said.
He has singled out the need to reduce the number of deputies, and to change the parliamentary system and the electoral law in order to make politics more stable.He has singled out the need to reduce the number of deputies, and to change the parliamentary system and the electoral law in order to make politics more stable.
Of his putative government, he said: "It will be a government at the service of the country, the aim including that of bringing morals to the country's public life, which needs new nourishment."Of his putative government, he said: "It will be a government at the service of the country, the aim including that of bringing morals to the country's public life, which needs new nourishment."
"This government will not be born at any cost - there will be conditions. I will give my all for it because Italians are fed up with these little political games.""This government will not be born at any cost - there will be conditions. I will give my all for it because Italians are fed up with these little political games."
Born in Pisa in 1966, Mr Letta undertook a doctorate in European Community law before heading the European youth wing of the centre-right Christian Democrats from 1991-1995.Born in Pisa in 1966, Mr Letta undertook a doctorate in European Community law before heading the European youth wing of the centre-right Christian Democrats from 1991-1995.
He worked in the finance ministry as Italy prepared to join the euro, before being named minister for European Affairs in 1998 in the then centre-left government at the age of 32 - the youngest cabinet minister in Italy's post-war history. After Mr Berlusconi entered politics 1994 the Christian Democrats split. Mr Letta sided with a new centre-left coalition headed by Romano Prodi.
He later served as industry minister and as minister for foreign trade. He worked in the finance ministry as Italy prepared to join the euro, before being named minister for European Affairs in 1998 at the age of 32 - the youngest cabinet minister in Italy's post-war history.
From 2006-2008 he was cabinet secretary in the government of Romano Prodi, a position his uncle was given in the centre-right government that followed. He later served as industry minister and as minister for foreign trade before the centre-left lost power in 2001.
He failed in his bid to win the leadership of the PD in 2007, but became deputy leader in 2009. From 2006-2008 he was cabinet secretary in Mr Prodi's government, a position his uncle was given in the centre-right government that followed.
In 2007 he challenged front-runner Walter Veltroni in primaries for the leadership for the newly formed PD, winning just 11% of the votes - but gaining the chance to start building his own political base. He became deputy leader of the PD in 2009.
According to his biography on the PD website he supports AC Milan, the football club of which Mr Berlusconi is president. He is married with three children.According to his biography on the PD website he supports AC Milan, the football club of which Mr Berlusconi is president. He is married with three children.
Mr Letta is a well-established member of the political establishment.Mr Letta is a well-established member of the political establishment.
But the fact that he drove himself to the presidential palace in his own Fiat car to accept the prime ministerial mandate was seen by some as a statement against the extensive privileges - including chauffeur-driven cars and motorcades - that have caused growing resentment against Italy's politicians.But the fact that he drove himself to the presidential palace in his own Fiat car to accept the prime ministerial mandate was seen by some as a statement against the extensive privileges - including chauffeur-driven cars and motorcades - that have caused growing resentment against Italy's politicians.