Ministerial offices

Secretary of the Council of Ministers
In office 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008
Prime Minister	Romano Prodi
Preceded by	Gianni Letta
Succeeded by	Gianni Letta
Minister of Industry, Commerce and Crafts
In office 22 December 1999 – 11 June 2001
Prime Minister	Massimo D'Alema Giuliano Amato
Preceded by	Pier Luigi Bersani
Succeeded by	Antonio Marzano
Minister for the Community Policies
In office 21 October 1998 – 22 December 1999
Prime Minister	Massimo D'Alema
Preceded by	Lamberto Dini
Succeeded by	Patrizia Toia

Parliamentary offices

Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 6 October 2021 – 20 December 2024
Constituency	Lombardy (2022–2024) Siena (2021–2022)
In office 30 May 2001 – 23 July 2015
Constituency	Marche (2013–2015) Lombardy II (2008–2013) Lombardy I (2006–2008) Piedmont I (2001–2004)
Member of the European Parliament
In office 14 June 2004 – 10 April 2006
Constituency	North-East Italy

Personal details

Born

20 August 1966 (age 58)
Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

Political party

PD (2007–2015; since 2019)

Other political
affiliations

DC (before 1994)
PPI (1994–2002)
DL (2002–2007)

Height

1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)

Spouse

Gianna Fregonara

Children

Alma mater

University of Pisa
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

Profession

Politician
professor

Signature

Enrico Letta (born 20 August 1966) is an Italian politician. He was the Prime Minister of Italy from April 2013 to February 2014. During this time, he led a special government made of different political parties. He also served as the leader of the Democratic Party (PD) from March 2021 to March 2023.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Letta worked as a professor. He entered politics in 1998 as a government minister. He was first the Minister for Community Policies. Later, he became the Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Crafts. In 2001, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. From 2006 to 2008, he was the Secretary of the Council of Ministers. In 2007, he helped start the Democratic Party. He became its Deputy Secretary in 2009.

After the 2013 Italian general election had no clear winner, President Giorgio Napolitano asked Letta to form a government. This government included parties from the centre-left and centre-right. Its goal was to help Italy with its economic and social problems. Letta became Prime Minister on 28 April 2013. His government worked to improve the economy and fight youth unemployment. They also stopped public funding for political parties. Letta's government also dealt with the start of the 2015 European migrant crisis. This included a very sad shipwreck near Lampedusa in 2013. In response, Letta started Operation Mare Nostrum to rescue migrants at sea.

In November 2013, a political party tried to stop supporting Letta's government. But many of its members decided to form a new party and keep supporting him. Even though his position was safe, a new leader, Matteo Renzi, was elected for his party. This caused some tension. Letta lost support from his colleagues and resigned as Prime Minister on 22 February 2014.

After leaving office, Letta moved to Paris to teach at Sciences Po. In March 2021, he returned to Italy to become the new leader of the Democratic Party. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies again in October 2021. He left this role in December 2024 to become a dean at IE University in Madrid, Spain.

Early Life and Education
Political Journey
- Becoming a Party Leader Candidate
- Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party
Prime Minister of Italy
After Politics: Academic Life
Leading the Democratic Party Again
Personal Life
Electoral History
- First-past-the-post elections
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Enrico Letta was born in Pisa, Italy, on 20 August 1966. His father, Giorgio Letta, was a math professor. His mother, Anna Banchi, had Tuscan and Sardinian family roots. He comes from a large family. His uncle, Gianni Letta, was a close advisor to Silvio Berlusconi. His aunt, Maria Teresa Letta, was a vice president of the Italian Red Cross.

Letta spent some of his childhood in Strasbourg. He finished school in Pisa, Italy. He studied political science at the University of Pisa. He then earned a PhD from the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies.

From 2001 to 2003, Letta taught at the University Carlo Cattaneo. He also taught at the Sant'Anna School in Pisa in 2003. In 2004, he taught at HEC Paris.

Political Journey

Letta in 2001

Enrico Letta is a Catholic. He started his political journey with the Christian Democracy (DC) party. This party was very important in Italy for nearly 50 years. From 1991 to 1995, Letta led the youth group of the European People's Party. This helped him build connections between different parties in Europe. He has always been a strong supporter of the European Union.

In 1993 and 1994, Letta worked for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Beniamino Andreatta. Andreatta was a big influence on Letta's political path.

After the DC party ended in 1994, Letta joined the Italian People's Party (PPI). He became the party's deputy secretary in 1997. In 1998, at 32 years old, he became the Minister for Community Policies. This made him the youngest government minister in Italy after World War II.

In 1999, Letta became the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Crafts. He held this job until 2001.

In the 2001 Italian general election, Letta was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. He was part of a new party called Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy. In 2004, he was elected to the European Parliament. He worked on economic and money matters there.

In 2006, Letta was elected to the Chamber of Deputies again. He became the Secretary of the Council of Ministers. This made him a very close advisor to Prime Minister Romano Prodi. After two years, Prodi's government ended. Letta returned the post to his uncle, Gianni Letta.

Becoming a Party Leader Candidate

In 2007, Letta helped create the Democratic Party (PD). He ran to become the party's first leader. He announced his plan on YouTube. He compared the PD to Wikipedia, saying everyone should contribute. His campaign was supported by many important politicians. However, Walter Veltroni, the Mayor of Rome, won the election by a lot. Letta came in third place.

After the election, Letta was put in charge of labor issues for the party. In 2008, he became the Shadow Minister of Labour.

Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party

Letta at a meeting for his 360 Association in 2012

In 2009, Letta supported Pier Luigi Bersani for party leader. After Bersani won, Letta became the Deputy Secretary.

In 2010, Letta held a meeting in Verona. He met with business owners and leaders from another party, Lega Nord. This showed his interest in working with different groups.

In the 2013 Italian general election, the centre-left group led by Bersani won many seats. But no party won a clear majority in the Senate. This meant Italy had a "hung parliament."

On 20 April 2013, Bersani resigned as party leader. Letta and the rest of the party leadership also resigned.

Prime Minister of Italy

Forming a New Government

After many votes, President Giorgio Napolitano agreed to be re-elected. He asked for changes to Italy's laws and elections. On 24 April 2013, President Napolitano asked Enrico Letta to form a new government. This was after weeks of political problems.

Letta with President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome, 2013

On 27 April, Letta agreed to lead a "grand coalition government." This government included his Democratic Party, The People of Freedom (PdL), and Civic Choice. It was the first time that all major parties from an election joined together in a government. Letta's good relationship with his uncle, Gianni Letta, helped bring the different groups together. Letta chose Angelino Alfano as his Deputy Prime Minister. The new government officially started on 28 April.

On 29 April, Letta's government won a vote of confidence in the Chamber of Deputies. The next day, they won in the Senate too. In his first speech, Letta said Italy needed to bring back "decency, sobriety and a sense of honour." He also wanted to lower the costs of politics.

Economic Plans

Prime Minister Letta in 2013

As Prime Minister, Letta had to deal with a big economic crisis. In 2013, about 40% of young people in Italy were unemployed. To help, Letta held a meeting with leaders from Germany, France, and Spain. They wanted to agree on ways to reduce unemployment across Europe. Italy later received 1.5 billion euros from the EU to help young people find jobs.

On 31 May, the government decided to stop public money for political parties. This was a big change, as parties had relied on these funds for years. On 4 June, Letta's government took over Ilva, a large steel company, to help it recover.

In June, the government approved a plan to help the economy by making it easier to hire people. This plan was approved by Parliament. In August, the government removed a tax on primary homes that had been put in place by the previous government.

Immigration Policies

When Letta became Prime Minister, Italy faced many people arriving illegally. This was due to conflicts in Libya and Syria.

On 3 October 2013, a boat carrying migrants sank near the Italian island of Lampedusa. Many people on board were from Eritrea, Somalia, and Ghana. The Italian Coast Guard rescued 155 people. More than 360 people died, making it the deadliest shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea recently.

After this tragedy, Prime Minister Letta started Operation Mare Nostrum. This was a military and humanitarian mission. Its goal was to patrol the sea and rescue migrants. It also aimed to stop illegal smuggling. This operation helped bring at least 150,000 migrants to Europe. The operation continued for some months after Letta left office.

Working with Other Countries

Letta with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office

Letta was a strong supporter of Europe. He built good relationships with leaders like Angela Merkel from Germany and François Hollande from France. They agreed that spending more on investments was important for the economy.

In June, Letta attended his first G8 summit in Northern Ireland. There, he met U.S. President Barack Obama for the first time. In October, Obama invited Letta to the White House. Obama said he was impressed with Letta's plans for Italy.

In September, Letta went to the G20 summit in Russia. They talked about the Syrian civil war. Letta wanted a peaceful solution through the United Nations. He also asked for changes to the UN Security Council.

Government Challenges in 2013

On 28 September 2013, some ministers from The People of Freedom party resigned. Their leader, Silvio Berlusconi, told them to. This caused a government crisis. President Napolitano said he would only dissolve Parliament if there were no other options.

Letta with Angelino Alfano and Giorgio Napolitano in December 2013

Many members of Berlusconi's party decided to keep supporting the government. So, Berlusconi announced he would also support Letta. On 2 October, the government won confidence votes in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. This allowed Letta's government to continue.

In November, the Senate voted to remove Berlusconi from Parliament. This was because of legal issues. After this, Berlusconi formed a new party, Forza Italia, and stopped supporting the government. However, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano and others formed a new party, New Centre-Right, and stayed in the government. Letta's government won more confidence votes in December 2013.

In January 2014, the Minister of Agriculture, Nunzia De Girolamo, resigned. Letta temporarily took over her role.

Letta's Resignation

In December 2013, Matteo Renzi, the Mayor of Florence, became the new leader of the Democratic Party. This led to talk about him becoming the new prime minister. On 17 January 2014, Renzi sent a tweet saying "#enricostaisereno" (Enrico don't worry) to reassure Letta.

Letta with Matteo Renzi and President Napolitano in October 2013

However, many in Letta's party felt reforms were too slow. On 13 February 2014, the Democratic Party leadership voted for "a new government, a new phase and a radical programme of reforms." Letta then went to President Napolitano.

Renzi praised Letta but said Italy needed a "new phase" and "radical program" for reforms. He said Italy was at a "crossroads."

On 14 February, Letta resigned as Prime Minister. President Napolitano then asked Renzi to form a new government. Renzi officially became Prime Minister on 22 February.

After Politics: Academic Life

Letta speaking at the Jacques Delors Institute in 2016

In 2015, Letta left the Chamber of Deputies. He disagreed with a new election law proposed by Prime Minister Renzi. He also said he would not renew his membership in the Democratic Party.

In April 2015, Letta moved to Paris to teach at Sciences Po. He became the dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) there. He also taught at other universities in Sydney and San Diego. In the same year, Letta started Scuola di Politiche (School of Politics). This was a political science course for young Italians.

In 2016, Letta supported a plan to reduce the powers of the Senate in Italy. He also started a school focused on European issues called Académie Notre Europe. In 2017, he joined a French public commission for state reform.

Letta with François Hollande and Jean-Claude Juncker in 2016

In March 2019, Letta announced he would rejoin the Democratic Party. He also worked on the Human Development Report for the United Nations Development Programme. In 2020, he supported a plan to reduce the number of members of Parliament in Italy.

After leaving politics, Letta became an advisor for many companies and international groups. He joined the boards of Abertis and Amundi. He also became a senior advisor for Eurasia Group and Publicis.

Letta is a member of many non-profit groups. These include the International Gender Champions and the British Council. He also leads the European Group of the Trilateral Commission.

Letta was appointed Dean of IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs. He will start this new role at IE University on November 20.

Leading the Democratic Party Again

Letta speaking at the European Parliament in January 2022

In January 2021, the government led by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned. A new government was formed by Mario Draghi. The leader of the Democratic Party, Nicola Zingaretti, was criticized during this time. On 4 March, Zingaretti resigned as secretary. He said he was "ashamed of the power struggles" in the party.

Many important members of the Democratic Party asked Letta to become the new leader. After a few days, Letta agreed. On 14 March, the party's national assembly elected him as secretary.

On 17 March, Letta chose Peppe Provenzano and Irene Tinagli as his deputy secretaries. The next day, he named a new executive team with equal numbers of men and women. He also asked the two male leaders in Parliament to resign. He wanted two female leaders instead. So, Simona Malpezzi and Debora Serracchiani were elected as leaders in the Senate and Chamber.

Letta with Giuseppe Conte and Finnish PM Sanna Marin in 2022

In July 2021, Letta decided to run for the Chamber of Deputies again in the Siena area. On 4 October, he won the election and returned to Parliament. In other local elections that year, the Democratic Party and its allies won in many major cities.

As a leader of a major political force, Letta played a role in the 2022 Italian presidential election. He supported Mario Draghi and Sergio Mattarella for president. On 29 January, all main parties asked Mattarella to serve a second term. Mattarella agreed and was re-elected.

In July 2022, there were problems within the government. Giuseppe Conte's party, the Five Star Movement, stopped supporting Prime Minister Draghi. Letta was worried about a government crisis. On 13 July, Conte's party abstained from a vote, and Draghi resigned. However, President Mattarella rejected his resignation. Letta said Italy needed a strong leader like Draghi. But on 21 July, Draghi resigned again after another vote failed. A new election was called for 25 September 2022.

After the 2022 general election, Enrico Letta accepted the defeat. He announced he would not run for party secretary again. Elly Schlein became the new leader in February 2023.

Personal Life

Enrico Letta is married to Gianna Fregonara, who is a journalist. They have three children: Giacomo, Lorenzo, and Francesco.

Letta enjoys listening to Dire Straits music and playing Subbuteo. He is also a big fan of the A.C. Milan football team. Besides Italian, he speaks French and English very well.

Electoral History

Election	House	Constituency		Votes	Result
2001	Chamber of Deputies	Piedmont 1	DL	–	Y Elected
2004	European Parliament	North-East Italy	Ulivo	178,707	Y Elected
2006	Chamber of Deputies	Lombardy 1	Ulivo	–	Y Elected
2008	Chamber of Deputies	Lombardy 2	PD	–	Y Elected
2013	Chamber of Deputies	Marche	PD	–	Y Elected
2021	Chamber of Deputies	Siena	PD	33,391	Y Elected
2022	Chamber of Deputies	Lombardy 1	PD	–	Y Elected

First-past-the-post elections

2021 Italian by-election (C): Siena
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Enrico Letta	Centre-left coalition	33,391	49.9
	Tommaso Marrocchesi Marzi	Centre-right coalition	25,303	37.8
	Others		8,191	12.3
Total			66,885	100.0

Images for kids

Enrico Letta's signature

Enrico Letta facts for kids

Contents