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Profile: Enrico Letta | |
(1 day 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. |
After Mr Berlusconi entered politics 1994 the Christian Democrats split. Mr Letta sided with a new centre-left coalition headed by Romano Prodi. | After Mr Berlusconi entered politics 1994 the Christian Democrats split. Mr Letta sided with a new centre-left coalition headed by Romano Prodi. |
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. | 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. |
He later served as industry minister and as minister for foreign trade before the centre-left lost power in 2001. | He later served as industry minister and as minister for foreign trade before the centre-left lost power in 2001. |
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. | 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. | 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. |