Walter Veltroni
OMRI
Secretary of the Democratic Party
In office
14 October 2007 – 21 February 2009
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byDario Franceschini
Mayor of Rome
In office
1 June 2001 – 13 February 2008
Preceded byFrancesco Rutelli
Succeeded byGianni Alemanno
Deputy Prime Minister of Italy
In office
17 May 1996 – 21 October 1998
Prime MinisterRomano Prodi
Preceded byRoberto Maroni
Giuseppe Tatarella
Succeeded bySergio Mattarella
Minister of Cultural Heritage
In office
17 May 1996 – 21 October 1998
Prime MinisterRomano Prodi
Preceded byAntonio Paolucci
Succeeded byGiovanna Melandri
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
29 April 2008 – 14 March 2013
ConstituencyLazio
In office
2 July 1987 – 30 May 2001
ConstituencyRome (1987–1992; 1996–2001)
Perugia (1992–1994)
Gubbio (1994–1996)
Personal details
Born
Walter Veltroni

(1955-07-03) 3 July 1955 (age 68)
Rome, Italy
Political party
  • PCI (1970–1991)
  • PDS (1991–1998)
  • DS (1998–2007)
  • PD (2007–present)
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
SpouseFlavia Prisco
Children2
OccupationFilm director ex politician
Signature

Walter Veltroni OMRI (Italian pronunciation: [ˈvalter velˈtroːni]; born 3 July 1955) is an Italian writer, film director, journalist, and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009.[1] He served as Mayor of Rome from June 2001 to February 2008.

Early life

Veltroni was born in Rome. His father, Vittorio Veltroni, an eminent RAI manager in the 1950s, died only one year later.[2] His mother, Ivanka Kotnik, was the daughter of Ciril Kotnik, a Slovenian diplomat at the Holy See who helped numerous Jews and anti-fascists to escape Nazi persecution after 1943.[3]

Political career

Veltroni joined the Italian Communist Youth Federation (FGCI) at the age of 15, and was elected Rome city councillor in 1976 as member of the Italian Communist Party, serving until 1981. He was then elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 1987. As a member of the Italian Communist Party's national secretariat, in 1988, he played a leading role in the transformation into a social democratic party.[citation needed]

Veltroni, a professional journalist, was editor-in-chief of L'Unità, the newspaper of the Democratic Party of the Left from 1992 to 1996. He then ran as one of the leading members of The Olive Tree coalition in the 1996 general election. After The Olive Tree's victory, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Cultural Assets and Activities from 1996 to 1998, joining 25 other PDS members in cabinet–the first (former) Communists to take part in government since 1947. Also in 1996, he joined the Bilderberg Meeting. In 1998, he resigned, subsequent to his election as National Secretary of the Democrats of the Left (DS). Despite his background as a journalist, he has been involved in controversial episodes related to freedom of expression. For example, in 2001, after the late night show Satyricon aired an interview that discussed indictments on links between the right-wing leader and the mafia, Marco Travaglio reported that Veltroni dispatched a messenger menacing the closure of the show.[4]

Mayor of Rome

In 2001, Veltroni resigned as leader of the party after being elected Mayor of Rome. In May 2006, Veltroni was confirmed Mayor of Rome, easily defeating former Minister of Agriculture Gianni Alemanno, of National Alliance, obtaining an unprecedented 61.4% of the valid votes against the 37.1% achieved by his main opponent. The percentage of votes that supported Veltroni's second term in office was a record in local elections in Rome. Shortly before this confirmation, Veltroni had declared that he was going to leave politics at the end of his second term as Mayor.[citation needed]

In 2005, as mayor of Rome, he met in Washington, during a visit to the United States, then United States Senator (D-IL), Barack Obama,[5] being one of his earliest supporters overseas.[6] He wrote the preface to the Italian edition of The Audacity of Hope in 2007[7] and has been referred to as "Obama's European counterpart".[8]

Veltroni during the electoral campaign.

Veltroni was then widely considered one of the most popular centre left politicians in Italy, and often singled out for the leadership of the Democratic Party, despite his statements that he would not accept such position after his tenure as Mayor would end. In June 2007, DS leader Piero Fassino publicly asked Veltroni to run for the party leadership, offering support from all of his party. Several other Democratic Party leading members publicly stated their support for a possible candidacy of Veltroni. Furthermore, the strongest of his possible contenders, Pier Luigi Bersani, which polls showed as having a 50% support in center-north regions,[9] withdrew to avoid a 'confusing candidacy'.[10] Veltroni officially presented his candidacy for the leadership of the Democratic Party at a rally in Turin on 27 June 2007. At this occasion, he introduced the four key issues his programme would address: environment, generational pact, education, and public security.[11]

Leader of the Democratic Party

Veltroni was elected as the first leader of the newly founded Democratic Party on 14 October 2007, winning an open primary with around 2.6 million votes, or 75.8%.[12]

In 2007, Veltroni had some remarks against the Romanian immigrants, claiming that Italy has become "unlivable" since Romania joined the European Union,[13] while before its entry, Rome was "the safest city in the world", bringing accusations of xenophobia from the Romanian press.[14]

Following the defeat of Prodi's government in a January 2008 Senate vote,[15] Veltroni led the Democratic Party into the April 2008 general election. Veltroni resigned as Mayor of Rome on 13 February 2008 to concentrate on the campaign.[16]

He has been criticised for his over-frequentation of Rome socialites, and advised to focus on more practical problems.[17]

On 17 February 2009, following clashes within the party and only a day after a heavy defeat of the Democratic Party in a local regional election in Sardinia,[18] Veltroni announced his immediate resignation from his leadership post.[1] The Constituent Assembly of the party subsequently convened on 21 February 2009 and elected Veltroni's former deputy Dario Franceschini as the new secretary.[19]

Public image

On 28 September 2014, in Venice, Italy,[20][21][22] the former Mayor of Rome was responsible of marrying George Clooney to Amal Alamuddin.[22][23] The wedding was widely reported in the media.[24]

Awards

In 2003, he received an honoris causa degree in Public Services by the John Cabot University of Rome. In 2006, Veltroni received the title of Cavaliere di Gran Croce (Knight of the Grand Cross) from President of the Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. He won the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation in 2009.[25]

Works

Veltroni has written a number of books on various topics, such as music, social issues, fiction, biographies and politics.

Filmography

Film director

Electoral history

Election House Constituency Party Votes Result
1987 Chamber of Deputies Rome–Viterbo–Latina–Frosinone PCI 19,258 checkY Elected
1992 Chamber of Deputies Perugia–Terni–Rieti PDS 25,981 checkY Elected
1994 Chamber of Deputies Gubbio PDS 38,815 checkY Elected
1996 Chamber of Deputies Rome Centre PDS 35,086 checkY Elected
2008 Chamber of Deputies Lazio 2 PD –[a] checkY Elected
  1. ^ Elected in a closed list proportional representation system.

First-past-the-post elections

1994 general election (C): Gubbio
Candidate Coalition Votes %
Walter Veltroni Progressives (PDS) 38,815 48.1
Francesca Caccinelli Pole of Good Government (FI) 28,445 35.3
Marcello Piccini Pact for Italy (PS) 13,431 16.6
Total 80,691 100.0
1996 general election (C): Rome Centre
Candidate Coalition Votes %
Walter Veltroni The Olive Tree (PDS) 35,086 49.9
Filippo Mancuso Pole for Freedoms (FI) 32,203 45.8
Isabella Rauti Tricolour Flame 3,016 4.3
Total 70,305 100.0

References

  1. ^ a b "Italian opposition leader resigns". BBC News. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  2. ^ AteneOnline. "Chi è Walter Veltroni. Non solo politico" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  3. ^ Testimony of the rabbi S. Sorani in the book: Robert G. Weisbord & Wallace P. Sillanpoa, The Chief Rabbi, the Pope, and the Holocaust: An Era in Vatican-Jewish Relations 1992, p. 64
  4. ^ Travaglio, Marco; Daniele Luttazzi (8 November 2001). "Intervista a Daniele Luttazzi su La Repubblica" (in Italian). La Repubblica di Torino. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2007. Dopo quella puntata famosa di Satyricon, Veltroni mandò un emissario alla mia regista per dire che, se non-la smettevamo di fare casino, ci chiudevano loro
  5. ^ Rome Mayor's Leadership Bid May Lead to Early Italian Elections
  6. ^ VELTRONI A NEW YORK – Il politico prevale sull' amministratore, corriere.it; accessed 29 June 2015.(in Italian)
  7. ^ Libreria Rizzoli Galleria[permanent dead link], libreriarizzoli.it; accessed 29 June 2015.(in Italian)
  8. ^ Obama's European counterparts, Los Angeles Times; accessed 29 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Pd: Letta-Bersani volano nel Nord in sondaggi riservati". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  10. ^ "RaiNews24 – Bersani rinuncia alla segreteria del Pd. "La mia candidatura avrebbe disorientato"". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Italy's Left Looks Beyond Prodi". The Guardian. London. 27 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Rome Mayor Set to Win Left's Leadership". Associated Press. 14 October 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2007.[dead link]
  13. ^ "Romanian actress battles racism in Italy", The Independent, 10 October 2008
  14. ^ (in Romanian) "Romanii din afara granitelor – Cine le apara interesele?" Archived 19 October 2007 at archive.today, 22, vol. 15, no. 928; 18 December 2007
  15. ^ Elisabeth Rosenthal, "With Flawed System Unchanged, Italy Sets Elections for April", The New York Times, 7 February 2008.
  16. ^ Steve Scherer, "Veltroni Resigns as Rome Mayor to Take on Berlusconi (Update1)", Bloomberg.com, 13 February 2008.
  17. ^ "La dolce vita revisited: Rome's new emperor". The Independent. London. 9 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
  18. ^ Berlusconi's candidate wins elections in Sardinia
  19. ^ "Italy's Left gets new leader". France 24. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  20. ^ Kington, Tom (27 September 2014). "George Clooney Marries in Venice Ceremony". Sky News. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  21. ^ Oldenburg, Ann; Puente, Maria (27 September 2014). "George Clooney, Amal Alamuddin marry in Venice". USA Today. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  22. ^ a b Fornasier, Claudia (15 September 2014). "George, sì davanti a Veltroni". Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  23. ^ Squires, Nick (15 September 2014). "George Clooney 'to be married by ex-Rome mayor'". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  24. ^ Squires, Nick (29 September 2014). "George Clooney's wedding to Amal Alamuddin finally ends". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  25. ^ "2009 America Prize Ceremony at the Deputies Chamber". Italy-USA Foundation (in Italian).

External links

Media offices Preceded byRenzo Foa Director of L'Unità 1992–1996 Succeeded byGiuseppe Caldarola Political offices Preceded byRoberto Maroni Deputy Prime Minister of Italy 1996–1998 Succeeded bySergio Mattarella Preceded byGiuseppe Tatarella Preceded byAntonio Paolucci Minister of Cultural Heritage 1996–1998 Succeeded byGiovanna Melandri Preceded byFrancesco Rutelli Mayor of Rome 2001–2008 Succeeded byGianni Alemanno Party political offices Preceded byMassimo D'Alema Secretary of the Democrats of the Left 1998–2001 Succeeded byPiero Fassino New political party Secretary of the Democratic Party 2007–2009 Succeeded byDario Franceschini
Walter Veltroni
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