Lamberto Dini Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lamberto Dini
Dini in 1999

Prime Minister of Italy
In office 17 January 1995 – 18 May 1996
President	Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
Preceded by	Silvio Berlusconi
Succeeded by	Romano Prodi
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 18 May 1996 – 11 June 2001
Prime Minister	Romano Prodi Massimo D'Alema Giuliano Amato
Preceded by	Susanna Agnelli
Succeeded by	Renato Ruggiero
Minister of Justice
Acting 19 October 1995 – 16 February 1996
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Filippo Mancuso
Succeeded by	Vincenzo Caianiello
Minister of Treasury
In office 11 May 1994 – 18 May 1996
Prime Minister	Silvio Berlusconi Himself
Preceded by	Piero Barucci
Succeeded by	Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Director General of the Bank of Italy
In office 8 October 1979 – 11 May 1994
Deputy	Mario Sarcinelli Alfredo Persiani Acerbo Cannelo Oteri Antonio Fazio Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa Vincenzo Desario
Preceded by	Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Succeeded by	Vincenzo Desario
Member of the Senate of the Republic
In office 30 May 2001 – 14 March 2013
Constituency	Tuscany (2001–2008) Lazio (2008–2013)
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 9 May 1996 – 29 May 2001
Constituency	Florence

Personal details
Born	(1931-03-01) 1 March 1931 (age 94) Florence, Kingdom of Italy
Political party	RI (1996–2002) DL (2002–2007) LD (2007–2009) PdL (2009–2013)
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Spouse	Donatella Pasquali Zingone
Residences	Rome, Italy
Alma mater	University of Florence University of Minnesota University of Michigan
Profession	Economist
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Lamberto Dini (born 1 March 1931) is an Italian politician and economist. He has held many important roles in Italy. He was the head of the Bank of Italy from 1979 to 1994. He also served as the Minister of Treasury from 1994 to 1996. From 1995 to 1996, he was the 51st prime minister of Italy. Later, he became the Foreign Minister from 1996 to 2001. As of July 2025, he is 94 years old, making him the oldest living former prime minister of Italy.

Early Life and Career
Political Journey and Alliances
Later Political Career
Honors and Awards
- Foreign Honors
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Career

Lamberto Dini was born in Florence, Italy. He studied Economics in his hometown. In 1959, he started working at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF is an international organization that helps countries with their money and economies. He worked his way up and became an Executive Director for several countries, including Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Malta, from 1976 to 1979.

In October 1979, Dini moved to the Banca d'Italia, which is Italy's central bank. He worked there as a top executive until May 1994. When the head of the Bank of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, became prime minister in 1993, many thought Dini would take his place. However, Antonio Fazio was chosen instead.

Dini returned to government in May 1994. He became the Minister of Treasury in the government led by Silvio Berlusconi. This government lasted only seven months. It ended in December 1994 because Berlusconi and his partner, Umberto Bossi, had disagreements.

In January 1995, President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro asked Dini to become the new prime minister. Dini also kept his role as Minister of Treasury. His government was made up of experts, not elected politicians. Many left-wing parties supported him, while his former partners on the right chose not to vote against him.

Political Journey and Alliances

In April 1996, a new general election was held in Italy. Silvio Berlusconi's group competed against a group called The Olive Tree, led by Romano Prodi. By this time, Dini and Berlusconi had a difficult relationship. Dini decided to join The Olive Tree with his own political party, Italian Renewal.

Dini was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies. He then served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for five years. He held this position in four different governments. These governments were led by Romano Prodi, Massimo D'Alema (twice), and Giuliano Amato.

Later, Dini's party, Italian Renewal, joined a larger party called The Daisy. This new party was formed by several centrist groups that were part of the center-left alliance.

In the May 2001 general election, Berlusconi and his allies won again. Dini was then elected to the Italian Senate. As a senator, he helped draft the European Constitution. This was a plan for how the European Union would be governed.

Later Political Career

In September 2007, Dini left The Daisy party. He formed a new party called the Liberal Democrats. This was a new version of his old party, Italian Renewal.

In January 2008, Dini played a role in the fall of Prime Minister Romano Prodi's government. After this, Dini joined The People of Freedom. This was a new political party created by Silvio Berlusconi. Dini was elected to the Senate again in the 2008 Italian general election.

Honors and Awards

Lamberto Dini has received special awards from other countries. In 2000, during a visit to the United Kingdom, he was given an honorary Knighthood Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. This is a very high honor.

In April 2009, the Japanese government announced that they would award Dini the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. This award was presented to him by the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese prime minister in May 2009.