Sergio Mattarella facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sergio Mattarella OMRI OMCA
Official portrait, 2022
President of Italy
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 February 2015
Preceded by	Giorgio Napolitano
Judge of the Constitutional Court of Italy
In office 11 October 2011 – 2 February 2015
Appointed by	Italian Parliament
Preceded by	Ugo De Siervo
Succeeded by	Augusto Antonio Barbera
Minister of Defence
In office 22 December 1999 – 11 June 2001
Preceded by	Carlo Scognamiglio
Succeeded by	Antonio Martino
Deputy Prime Minister of Italy
In office 21 October 1998 – 22 December 1999
Preceded by	Walter Veltroni
Succeeded by	Gianfranco Fini
Minister of Public Education
In office 23 July 1989 – 27 July 1990
Preceded by	Giovanni Galloni
Succeeded by	Gerardo Bianco
Minister for Parliamentary Relations
In office 29 July 1987 – 23 July 1989
Preceded by	Gaetano Gifuni
Succeeded by	Egidio Sterpa
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 12 July 1983 – 28 April 2008
Constituency	See list Palermo (1983–1994) Sicily 1 (1994–2001; 2006–2008) Trentino-Alto Adige (2001–2006)
Personal details
Born	(1941-07-23) 23 July 1941 (age 85) Palermo, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy
Political party	Independent (since 2009)
Spouse	Marisa Chiazzese ​ ​ (m. 1966; died 2012)​
Children	3, including Laura
Parents	Bernardo Mattarella (father) Maria Buccellato (mother)
Relatives	Piersanti Mattarella (brother)
Alma mater	Sapienza University of Rome
Signature

Sergio Mattarella (born 23 July 1941) is an Italian politician who has been the President of Italy since 2015. The President is like the head of the country, making sure everything runs smoothly and protecting the Constitution. He is the longest-serving president in Italy's history.

Before becoming president, Mattarella was involved in politics for many years. He was a member of several political parties, including Christian Democracy. He served as a minister in different governments, holding important roles like Minister for Parliamentary Relations (1987–1989), Minister of Education (1989–1990), Deputy Prime Minister of Italy (1998–1999), and Minister of Defence (1999–2001). He also worked as a judge in the Constitutional Court of Italy from 2011 to 2015.

Mattarella was first elected president on 31 January 2015. He was re-elected for a second term on 29 January 2022. During his time as president, Italy has faced big challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and important political changes. He has worked to guide the country through these times, focusing on unity and stability.

Early Life and Family

Sergio Mattarella (third from left) with his siblings in the early 1950s. His brother Piersanti is on the right.

Mattarella with his father Bernardo in 1963.

Sergio Mattarella was born in Palermo, Sicily, on 23 July 1941. He came from an important family. His father, Bernardo Mattarella, was a politician who helped start the Christian Democracy party. This party was very important in Italian politics for many years. His father also served as a minister several times.

When Sergio was young, his family moved to Rome because of his father's political work. In Rome, he was active in a large Catholic youth group called Azione Cattolica. He studied law at the Sapienza University of Rome and became a lawyer in Palermo in 1967. Later, he taught law at the University of Palermo.

In 1966, Sergio Mattarella married Marisa Chiazzese. They had three children: Laura, Francesco, and Bernardo. A sad event changed his life in 1980. His older brother, Piersanti Mattarella, who was also a politician, was killed in Palermo. After this, Sergio decided to leave his teaching job and enter politics to make a difference.

Political Career

Mattarella's first portrait as a deputy in 1983.

Mattarella's political journey began in 1983. He was elected as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, which is one of the two houses of the Italian Parliament. He represented the Palermo area.

Serving as a Minister

Mattarella held several important government positions. From 1987 to 1989, he was the Italian Minister for Parliamentary Relations. This role involves working between the government and the parliament.

In 1989, he became the Italian Minister of Education. During this time, he worked on improving schools. He helped reorganize teaching programs and reformed elementary schools. He also supported health education in schools. He resigned from this role in 1990 due to disagreements over a new law about media.

Electoral Law and Party Changes

In the early 1990s, Italy's political system faced big changes. Mattarella helped create a new electoral law, which was even nicknamed Mattarellum after him. This law combined different ways of voting to elect members of parliament.

After the Christian Democracy party dissolved, Mattarella helped found the Italian People's Party (PPI) in 1994. He continued to be elected to the Chamber of Deputies.

Roles in Centre-Left Governments

Mattarella supported the creation of a centre-left coalition called The Olive Tree. After this group won the election in 1996, Mattarella became the leader of the PPI's group in parliament.

From 1998 to 1999, he served as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy. This is a very senior role in the government. Then, from 1999 to 2001, he was the Italian Minister of Defence. In this role, he oversaw a reform of the Italian Armed Forces that ended compulsory military service.

Later, Mattarella joined other centrist parties to form The Daisy (DL) and then helped create the Democratic Party (PD) in 2007. He retired from politics in 2008.

Judge of the Constitutional Court

In 2011, Mattarella was chosen by the Italian Parliament to be a judge of the Constitutional Court of Italy. This court makes sure that laws follow the Constitution. He served in this important role until 2015, when he became president.

Presidency (2015–present)

First Term (2015–2022)

First term's official portrait.

On 31 January 2015, Sergio Mattarella was elected the President of Italy. He received strong support from various political parties. He took office on 3 February, replacing Giorgio Napolitano. His first words as president focused on the hopes and challenges facing Italian citizens.

His first official visit as president was to the Fosse Ardeatine. This is a place where many people were killed during World War II. He emphasized the need for unity to fight against terror.

Important Appointments

President Mattarella made several key appointments during his first term. He chose Giovanni Grasso as his special advisor for press and communication. He also appointed Ugo Zampetti as the Secretary-General to the Presidency.

In 2018, he appointed Liliana Segre as a senator for life. Liliana Segre is a survivor of the Holocaust. This appointment honored her efforts to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. It also reinforced Italy's commitment to its constitutional values.

Mattarella also appointed several judges to the Constitutional Court. These appointments ensured that the court had experienced legal experts. This helped maintain the balance and continuity of Italy's institutions.

Political Challenges in 2016

President Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in 2015.

In December 2016, Italy held a constitutional referendum. People voted on whether to change parts of the Constitution of Italy. The proposed changes aimed to reform the powers of the Parliament of Italy. However, 59.11% of voters rejected the changes.

Following this defeat, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned. President Mattarella then appointed Paolo Gentiloni as the new head of government. Gentiloni led a government with similar political support as Renzi's.

Forming a Government in 2018

Mattarella with Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on 24 March 2018.

The general election in March 2018 resulted in a situation where no single party or group had enough votes to form a government easily. This is called a hung parliament. The Five Star Movement (M5S) and the League became the largest parties.

President Mattarella played a crucial role in trying to resolve this political deadlock. He held many meetings with party leaders. He worked to find a way for parties to agree and form a stable government.

President Mattarella receiving Carlo Cottarelli in May 2018.

Eventually, the M5S and the League proposed Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister. However, there was a disagreement over a proposed Minister of Economy. President Mattarella expressed concerns about the candidate's views on Italy's role in Europe. He emphasized the need to protect Italy's stability and international standing. After further discussions, a new agreement was reached, and Conte's government was sworn in on 1 June 2018.

Government Crises of 2019 and 2021

President Mattarella during the August 2019 consultations.

In August 2019, a political crisis led to Prime Minister Conte's resignation. President Mattarella again held consultations with party leaders. A new government was formed between the M5S and the Democratic Party (PD), with Conte remaining as Prime Minister. This new government was sworn in on 5 September 2019.

Another crisis occurred in January 2021 when a party withdrew its support from Conte's government. Conte resigned, and President Mattarella sought a new solution. He asked Mario Draghi, a respected economist and former head of the European Central Bank, to form a national unity government. Draghi successfully formed a broad government, which was sworn in on 13 February 2021. This government was seen as a way to unite the country during a difficult time.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

Mattarella wearing a protective mask at the Victor Emmanuel II Monument during Liberation Day in April 2020.

During Mattarella's presidency, Italy was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2020, Italy became one of the first Western countries to implement a national lockdown to stop the virus from spreading. Schools, universities, and many businesses closed.

The government introduced strict rules to limit the virus. These included using protective masks and restricting gatherings. Later, a "Green Pass" was required for many activities, and Italy became the first country to mandate a COVID-19 vaccination certificate for all workers.

Mattarella on 31 December 2021 during the last speech of his first term as president.

In his final speech of his first term on 31 December 2021, Mattarella thanked Italians for getting vaccinated. He emphasized the importance of collective effort during the pandemic.

Second Term (2022–present)

Mattarella dissolving the Parliament following Draghi's resignation.

Mattarella with Giorgia Meloni during a military parade in 2023.

Mattarella during the 2024 Republic Day parade in Rome.

Mattarella with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2025.

President Mattarella and Prime Minister Mario Draghi at the Victor Emmanuel II Monument on inauguration day.

Although President Mattarella initially did not want a second term, many political leaders asked him to stay. They believed his leadership was essential for the country. On 29 January 2022, he agreed to serve again and was re-elected with a large majority of votes.

He was sworn in for his second term on 3 February.

Electoral history

Election	House	Constituency	Party		Votes	Result
1983	Chamber of Deputies	Palermo–Trapani–Agrigento–Caltanissetta		DC	119,969	Y Elected
1987	Chamber of Deputies	Palermo–Trapani–Agrigento–Caltanissetta		DC	143,935	Y Elected
1992	Chamber of Deputies	Palermo–Trapani–Agrigento–Caltanissetta		DC	50,280	Y Elected
1994	Chamber of Deputies	Sicily 1		PPI	–	Y Elected
1996	Chamber of Deputies	Sicily 1		PPI	–	Y Elected
2001	Chamber of Deputies	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol		DL	–	Y Elected
2006	Chamber of Deputies	Sicily 1		DL	–	Y Elected

Presidential elections

Honours

National honours

•  Italy: Head and Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (3 February 2015)
•  Italy: Head of the Military Order of Italy (3 February 2015)
•  Italy: Head of the Order of Merit for Labour (3 February 2015)
•  Italy: Head of the Order of the Star of Italy (3 February 2015)
•  Italy: Recipient (gold medal) of the Italian Order of Merit for Culture and Art (27 December 1991)
•  Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Red Cross (9 July 2019)

Foreign honours

•  Algeria: Collar of the National Order of Merit (6 November 2021)
•  Angola: Recipient of the Order of Agostinho Neto (25 May 2023)
•  Argentina: Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin (8 May 2017)
•  Armenia: Grand Cross of the Order of Glory (30 July 2018)
•  Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1 July 2019)
•  Azerbaijan: Heydar Aliyev Order (18 July 2018)
•  Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (1 December 2021)
•  Brazil: Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross (15 July 2024)
•  Bulgaria: Grand Cross of the Order of the Balkan Mountains (12 September 2016)
•  Cameroon: Grand Cross of the Cameroon Order of Valour (11 March 2016)
•  Cyprus: Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III (26 February 2024)
•  Estonia: Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (2 July 2018)
•  Finland: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose (27 September 2017)
•  France: Grand Cross of the Order of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (5 July 2021)
•  Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (19 September 2019)
•  Greece: Grand cross of the Order of the Redeemer (26 November 2015)
•  Ivory Coast: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Ivory Coast (4 April 2024)
•  Kazakhstan: Member 1st Class of the Order of Friendship (29 September 2025)
•  Latvia: Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (29 June 2018)
•  Lithuania: Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great (5 July 2018)
•  Luxembourg: Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (10 June 2025)
•  Malta: Honorary Companions of Honour with Collar of the National Order of Merit (13 September 2017)
•  Mexico: Collar of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle (4 July 2016)
•  Montenegro: Member 2sd class of the Order of the Republic of Montenegro (18 February 2025)
•  Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (20 June 2017)
•  Norway: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (6 April 2016)
•  Paraguay: Collar of the National Order of Merit (19 January 2023)
•  Poland: Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (17 April 2023)
•  Portugal: Grand Collar of the Order of Liberty (6 December 2017)
•  Qatar: Recipient of the Sword of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani (21 October 2024)
•  Romania: Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (11 June 2016)
•  San Marino: Collar of the Order of San Marino (5 October 2021)
•  Slovenia: Member of the Order for Exceptional Merits (21 October 2021)
•  South Korea: Recipient of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa (7 October 2023)
•  Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Collar of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (27 October 2016)
•  Spain:
  • Knight of the Collar of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (8 November 2021)
  • Knight of the Collar of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III (11 December 2024)
•  Sweden: Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (13 November 2018)
•  United Arab Emirates: Collar of the Order of Zayed (23 February 2025)
•  United Kingdom:
  • Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB) (8 April 2025)
  • Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) (as Minister of Defence) (16 October 2000)
•  Vatican City:
  • Knight with the Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX (17 April 2015)
  • Paul VI Prize (29 May 2023)

See also

In Spanish: Sergio Mattarella para niños