Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi OMRI (Italian: [roˈmaːno ˈprɔːdi] ⓘ; born 9 August 1939) is an Italian politician who served as President of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004 and twice as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1996 to 1998, and again 2006 to 2008. Prodi is considered the founder of the Italian centre-left and one of the most prominent and iconic figures of the Second Republic. He is often nicknamed Il Professore ("The Professor") due to his academic career.
Romano Prodi | |
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Prodi in 2004 | |
| President of the European Commission | |
| In office 16 September 1999 – 21 November 2004 | |
| Vice President | Neil Kinnock |
| Preceded by | Manuel Marín |
| Succeeded by | José Manuel Barroso |
| Prime Minister of Italy | |
| In office 17 May 2006 – 10 June 2008 | |
| President | Giorgio Napolitano |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Silvio Berlusconi |
| Succeeded by | Silvio Berlusconi |
| In office 18 May 1996 – 20 July 1999 | |
| President | Oscar Luigi Scalfaro |
| Deputy | Walter Veltroni |
| Preceded by | Lamberto Dini |
| Succeeded by | Massimo D'Alema |
| President of the Democratic Party | |
| In office 14 October 2007 – 16 April 2008 | |
| Secretary | Walter Veltroni |
| Preceded by | Office Created |
| Succeeded by | Rosy Bindi |
| Minister of Industry, Commerce and Crafts | |
| In office 25 November 1978 – 21 March 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | Giulio Andreotti |
| Preceded by | Carlo Donat-Cattin |
| Succeeded by | Franco Nicolazzi |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 28 April 2006 – 28 April 2008 | |
| Constituency | Emilia-Romagna |
| In office 9 May 1996 – 16 September 1996 | |
| Constituency | Bologna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Romano Antonio Prodi 9 August 1939 Scandiano, Italy |
| Political party | Christian Democracy (1963–1994) Italian People's Party (1994–1996) Independent (1996–1999, 2002–2007; since 2013) The Democrats (1999–2002) Democratic Party (2007–2013) |
| Other political affiliations | The Olive Tree (1995–2007) The Union (2005–2007) |
| Spouse |
Flavia Franzoni
(m. 1969; died 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | |
| Signature | |
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A former professor of economics and international advisor to Goldman Sachs, Prodi ran as lead candidate of The Olive Tree coalition, winning the 1996 election and serving as prime minister until losing a vote of confidence 1998. He was subsequently appointed President of the European Commission in 1999, serving until 2004. Following the victory of his new coalition, The Union, over the House of Freedoms led by Silvio Berlusconi, at the 2006 election, Prodi became prime minister a second time. On 24 January 2008, he lost a vote of confidence in the Senate and consequently tendered his resignation as prime minister to President Giorgio Napolitano; he continued in office for almost four months for routine business until early elections were held and a new government was formed. Prodi was the first left-leaning candidate to finish first in an Italian general election since 1921.
On 14 October 2007, Prodi became the founding president of the Democratic Party upon foundation of the party. On 12 September 2008, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon selected Prodi as president of the African Union–United Nations peacekeeping panel. Since 2021, he is serving as the United Nations Special Envoy for the Sahel.