2008 - 2009 PARTICIPANTS |
 | Walter Veltroni Leader of the Italian Democratic Party Power & Progressive Politics Walter Veltroni is the leader of Italy’s Democratic Party. A professional journalist, he was editor-in-chief of the newspaper L'Unità from 1992 to 1996, and served as deputy prime minister in Romano Prodi's first cabinet from 1996 until 1998, holding the arts and sports portfolio. He was awarded France’s Legion of Honor in May 2000 for his efforts to protect Italy’s vast cultural heritage. From 2001 to 2008 Veltroni served as Mayor of Rome. In Fall 2007 he was elected to the leadership of the Democratic Party and resigned from his mayoral post to lead the Democratic Party into the 2008 General Election. He has served as a member of the European Parliament, where he was part of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, Information Technology and Sport. He is the author of numerous books, including the most recently translated, Discovery of Dawn. |
