Renzi, Matteo (1975-…), was prime minister of Italy from February 2014 to December 2016. He is a member of the center-left Democratic Party. Renzi replaced Prime Minister Enrico Letta , who resigned. Renzi formed a coalition (partnership) government that included members of the Democratic Party, the New Center Right party, and others. Taking office at age 39, Renzi became Italy’s youngest ever prime minister. In December 2016, Renzi resigned from office following the failure of his proposed constitutional amendments in a national referendum. Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni became Italy’s new prime minister.
Renzi was born in Florence on Jan. 11, 1975. In 1996, he joined the Italian People’s Party. Renzi later became an organizer for another party called Democracy Is Freedom—the Daisy. Both parties were among the forerunners of Italy’s current Democratic Party. Renzi earned a law degree from the University of Florence in 1999. In 2004, he was elected president of the province of Florence. He became mayor of the city of Florence in 2009. Renzi became the national Democratic Party leader in December 2013.
In 2014, Italy’s economy was struggling, and Prime Minister Letta had difficulty holding his governing coalition together. Renzi became prime minister following Letta’s resignation.
