Party political offices

President of the Democrats of the Left
In office 6 November 1998 – 14 October 2007
Preceded by	Giglia Tedesco Tatò
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Secretary of the Democrats of the Left
In office 12 February 1998 – 6 November 1998
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Walter Veltroni
Secretary of the Democratic Party of the Left
In office 1 July 1994 – 12 February 1998
Preceded by	Achille Occhetto
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Secretary of the Italian Communist Youth Federation
In office 3 April 1975 – 12 June 1980
Preceded by	Renzo Imbeni
Succeeded by	Marco Fumagalli

Parliamentary offices

Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic
In office 26 January 2010 – 15 March 2013
Preceded by	Francesco Rutelli
Succeeded by	Giacomo Stucchi
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 28 April 2006 – 14 March 2013
Constituency	Apulia
In office 2 July 1987 – 19 July 2004
Constituency	Lecce–Brindisi–Taranto (1987–1994) Casarano (1994–2004)
Member of the European Parliament
In office 20 July 2004 – 27 April 2006
Constituency	Southern Italy

Personal details

Born

20 April 1949 (age 76)
Rome, Italy

Political party

PCI (1963–1991)
PDS (1991–1998)
DS (1998–2007)
PD (2007–2017)
Art.1 (2017–2023)

Spouse

Linda Giuva

Children

Massimo D'Alema (born 20 April 1949) is an Italian politician and journalist. He was the Prime Minister of Italy from 1998 to 2000. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2008.

D'Alema was a member of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) early in his career. He was the first former Communist party member to become prime minister of a NATO country. People sometimes called him Leader Maximo because of his strong role in left-wing politics. He has also written several books.

He joined the PCI in 1963 and became a leader in youth and party groups. He helped change the PCI into the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS). Later, he helped form The Olive Tree group, which won the 1996 election. He also helped turn the PDS into the Democrats of the Left (DS) in 1998. He was a member of Italy's Parliament from 1987 to 2004 and again from 2006 to 2013. He was also a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2006.

Early Life and Education
Political Journey
European Politics and Foreign Policy
Personal Life
Political Career Summary
Books by Massimo D'Alema
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Massimo D'Alema was born in Rome, Italy, on 20 April 1949. His father, Giuseppe D'Alema, was a partisan (a fighter in a resistance movement) and a communist politician. Massimo joined the Italian Communist Party (PCI) when he was 14.

He started his political journey in Pisa, where he was studying philosophy. A famous PCI leader, Palmiro Togliatti, called him an enfant prodige (a very talented young person). D'Alema also took part in the protests of 1968.

Political Journey

Leading Young Communists

In 1975, D'Alema became the national secretary of the Italian Communist Youth Federation (FGCI). During this time, he met Walter Veltroni. They became important figures in Italian politics.

In 1983, D'Alema became a regional secretary for the PCI in Apulia. He traveled to China to improve relations with Chinese communists. He also went to Moscow for the funeral of Soviet leader Yuri Andropov in 1984.

During the 1980s, many political parties faced challenges. D'Alema said that the PCI was transparent about its members. He believed other parties were not as open. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the PCI went through big changes.

From 1988 to 1990, D'Alema was the director of L'Unità, a major newspaper. He also wrote for other publications. He learned to adapt to the changing media landscape. He even appeared on TV shows, showing he understood how important media had become.

From Communism to Modern Left-Wing Politics

D'Alema joined the PCI's national leadership in 1986. He supported the party's change into the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS) in 1991. This was a big step away from the old communist ideas.

He became a key figure in the PDS. He believed the party needed to update its ideas, moving towards a modern social-democratic party like those in Western Europe. He was a member of Italy's Parliament (the Chamber of Deputies) from 1987.

D'Alema with Romano Prodi and Silvio Berlusconi in 1996

In 1994, D'Alema became the national secretary of the PDS. He tried to improve relations with Silvio Berlusconi to work on government reforms. After the PDS lost the 1994 election, D'Alema supported forming The Olive Tree coalition. This group included different political forces, from secular to Catholic.

The Olive Tree coalition, with D'Alema's support, won the 1996 general election. This was the first time progressive parties had won a general election in Italy.

Leading Italy's Government

Becoming Prime Minister

In 1998, Massimo D'Alema became the Prime Minister of Italy. He took over from Romano Prodi. He was the first prime minister born after Italy became a republic in 1946. He was also the first former Communist party member to lead a NATO country.

As prime minister, D'Alema continued to work on Italy's finances and privatization. He also worked on reforming the welfare system. His government faced challenges, including Italy's involvement in the NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999.

D'Alema with President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in 1999

D'Alema supported Italy's role in the NATO air strikes in Yugoslavia to help Kosovo. This action was supported by some right-wing politicians but opposed by some on the far left. After some political difficulties, D'Alema's government resigned in December 1999. He then formed a new government, the second D'Alema government.

D'Alema often discussed labor issues with Sergio Cofferati, a powerful trade union leader. D'Alema believed that the world of work was changing. He said that "mobility" and "flexibility" were important for new generations. He also promoted a conference on the "Third Way," inviting leaders like Bill Clinton and Tony Blair.

In 1998, D'Alema started a project for a new, unified left-wing party. This led to the creation of the DS, which changed its symbol to the rose of European socialism. In 2000, after his coalition lost regional elections, D'Alema stepped down as prime minister and party president. He later became president of the DS party again in December 2000.

European Role and Foreign Policy

D'Alema with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2006

From 2004 to 2006, D'Alema was a Member of the European Parliament. He worked on committees for fisheries and foreign affairs. In 2006, after Romano Prodi won the Italian general election, D'Alema was considered for important roles. He chose to step back to help avoid disagreements between parties.

In April 2006, D'Alema became Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs in Prodi's new government. As Foreign Minister, D'Alema focused on peace in the Mediterranean region.

D'Alema speaking at the UN in 2007

In September 2006, he showed support for the Palestinian people. He called for an end to violence and urged all groups to work for peace. He served in these roles until Prodi's government ended in 2008. D'Alema was re-elected to the Chamber of Deputies as part of the new Democratic Party (PD).

Later Political Activities

D'Alema during a Democratic Party meeting in May 2009

In 2010, D'Alema became president of the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (COPASIR). He also led the Foundation of European Progressive Studies (FEPS). He believed in traditional party politics and disagreed with some new approaches.

He was part of the left-wing group within the PD. This group opposed some of the reforms proposed by Matteo Renzi, another prominent politician. In 2017, D'Alema left the PD and helped start a new left-wing party called Article One. This party later joined a larger group called Free and Equal.

In the 2018 Italian general election, D'Alema was not elected to the Senate. Since then, he has mostly stepped back from active politics. He now works as a professor and leads the Italianieuropei Foundation. He continues to share his opinions on current events.

In 2019, D'Alema said, "Whoever wants to restore communism is brainless, whoever doesn't remember it is heartless... and I'm deeply sentimental." He has also called for an alliance between the PD and the Five Star Movement (M5S).

European Politics and Foreign Policy

D'Alema with Evangelos Venizelos

D'Alema was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2006. He has supported stronger European integration. Since 2010, he has been the president of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS).

As Italy's Foreign Minister, D'Alema played an active role during the 2006 Lebanon War. Italy helped with negotiations and was asked to lead a peacekeeping mission. D'Alema urged other European countries to help stabilize the Middle East. In 2013, he said that politicians must listen to people who doubt the European Union and offer solutions to their concerns.

Personal Life

Massimo D'Alema is married to Linda Giuva, who is a professor. They have two children, Giulia and Francesco.

D'Alema loves association football (soccer). He supports AS Roma, a football club, and has compared it to the political left. He said that AS Roma fans are "not used to winning the big games" and are "unprepared to rejoice." He also admires Juve but supports their opponents. He has a soft spot for Milan's Gianni Rivera, whom he helped become an undersecretary in his government.

Political Career Summary

Party Roles

1975–1980: National Secretary of the FGCI (youth group)
1981–1986: Regional Secretary of the PCI in Apulia
1986–1989: Editor of the newspaper L'Unità
1986–1992: Member of the PCI/PDS national leadership
1992–1994: Chairman of the PDS members of Parliament
1994–1999: Leader of the PDS/DS
Since 1996: Vice-chairman of the Socialist International
1998–2007: Chairman of the DS

Government Roles

1970–1976: Town councillor of Pisa
1985–1987: Regional councillor of Apulia
1987–2004: Chairman of the PCI/PDS/DS parliamentary group
1987–2013: Member of the Chamber of Deputies (Italian Parliament)
1996–1998: Chairman of the Committee for Constitutional Reform
1998–2000: Prime Minister of Italy
2006–2008: Minister of Foreign Affairs

Awards and Honours

Officer of the Legion of Honour (France), 2001.
Grand Cross Knight of the Order of Merit (Chile), 2005.
Grand Cross Knight of the Order of Pope Pius IX (Vatican City), 2006.
Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (Austria), 2007.
He also received high awards from Palestine and South Korea.