Gentiloni, Paolo (1954-…), served as prime minister of the European country of Italy from December 2016 to June 2018. He is a member of the center-left Democratic Party. Gentiloni replaced Prime Minister Matteo Renzi , who resigned but retained his leadership of the Democratic Party. Gentiloni took office as Italy continued to admit large numbers of refugees fleeing poverty and violence in the Middle East and northern Africa . Within Italy, his government faced a financial crisis and political challenges from populist and far-right movements. Populists are devoted to the rights of common people. Members of the far-right have strong views favoring tradition, order, and security.
Paolo Gentiloni Silveri was born in Rome on Nov. 22, 1954. He studied political science at Rome’s Sapienza University before beginning a career in journalism. In 1993, he entered politics as spokesman for Francesco Rutelli, who was elected mayor of Rome in December of that year. In 2001, Gentiloni was elected to the national Parliament. In 2002, he helped found the Daisy, a political party that merged with Democrats of the Left to form the current Democratic Party in 2007. Gentiloni served as foreign minister in Renzi’s government from 2014 until becoming prime minister on Dec. 12, 2016. Populist parties won elections in March 2018, and independent law professor Giuseppe Conte was named Italy’s new prime minister in June.
