Paolo Gentiloni
Date of Birth: 22.10.1954
Paolo Gentiloni - Italian politician, journalist, former Prime Minister of Italy, Minister of Communications in Prodi's second government (2006-2008) and Foreign Minister in Renzi's government (2014-2016). European Commissioner for Economy since December 1, 2019 in Ursula von der Leyen's commission.
Place of Birth. Education. He was born on November 22, 1954, in Rome. Paolo Gentiloni comes from an old noble family. His ancestor, the head of the Catholic electoral alliance Count Vincenzo Ottorino Gentiloni, concluded the so-called 'Gentiloni-Giolitti Pact' with Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti in 1913, which allowed practicing Catholics to participate in Italian political life despite the prohibition of Pope Pius IX. He studied at the Torkvato-Tasso lyceum in Rome. He completed his studies in political science at La Sapienza University in Rome and underwent journalistic training.
Political Career. He began to engage politically while still studying at Torkvato-Tasso lyceum and the university.
He worked for eleven years as a journalist, including for the weekly newspaper 'Volksfront' and then for 'Mir and War' - the magazine by the founders of Il Manifesto, Luciana Castellina and Michelangelo Notarianni. In 1984, he joined the environmental movement, led 'La nuova ecologia' - the periodic publication of the organization Legambiente, and met Francesco Rutelli during this time. In 1993, he participated in Rutelli's election campaign for the office of Mayor of Rome. After his victory, Paolo Gentiloni worked for seven years as the press secretary of the mayor and as a tourism assistant in the City Hall of Rome in preparation for the Millennium celebrations in 2000.
As an expert in the field of communications, Gentiloni became the coordinator of the 'Olive Tree' coalition campaign in 2001. In 2002, he co-founded the 'Margherita' party, and in 2007, he was a member of the founding committee of the Democratic Party. In 2001, Gentiloni was elected to the Chamber of Deputies and was part of the 'Margherita: Democracy is Freedom' faction. In 2006, he was elected to the Senate, and in 2008 and 2013, he was elected through the Democratic Party list. Throughout his time in the Chamber of Deputies, Gentiloni headed the parliamentary committee only during the 14th legislature: from October 12, 2005, to April 27, 2006, he was the chairman of the parliamentary committee for the oversight of broadcasting and television services.
From May 2006 to May 2008, Paolo Gentiloni served as Minister of Communications in Prodi's second government.
In 2013, Gentiloni participated in the Democratic Party's primaries to determine the candidate for the position of Mayor of Rome and was defeated not only by the winner Ignazio Marino but also by the third candidate David Sassoli.
On October 31, 2014, Paolo Gentiloni was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy after Federica Mogherini took over as High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy.
On December 11, 2016, the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, entrusted Gentiloni with forming a new government following the resignation of Matteo Renzi. On the evening of December 12, 2016, Gentiloni formed the government and took office as Prime Minister.
On March 24, 2018, after the start of work in the new parliament, Gentiloni submitted his resignation, but remained in office at the request of the President until a new cabinet was formed.
On March 17, 2019, he was elected party leader during the National Assembly of the Democratic Party.
On September 5, 2019, Giuseppe Conte's second cabinet nominated Gentiloni for the position of EU Commissioner for Economy and Finance in the commission to be formed by Ursula von der Leyen. On September 10, the full composition of the commission involving Gentiloni was officially announced.
Family. He is married to Emanuela Mauro (architect), and the couple has no children.
He loves lyrical music, plays tennis and poker, speaks good English, French, and German, dresses conservatively, and mainly moves around the city on foot.
12.10.2023