Mattarella

Sergio Mattarella is an Italian jurist and politician who has served as the President of Italy since 2015. He was born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1941. Mattarella comes from a prominent Sicilian family; his father, Bernardo Mattarella, was a minister and a key figure in the Christian Democracy party. His brother, Piersanti Mattarella, served as President of Sicily and was assassinated by the Mafia in 1980, an event that profoundly influenced Sergio's political career and commitment to fighting organized crime.

Mattarella began his legal career after graduating in law. He entered politics in the late 1970s, serving as a Member of Parliament for the Christian Democracy party. Over his parliamentary career, he held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Education and Minister of Defence. He was also a judge on the Constitutional Court of Italy from 2005 to 2015, serving as its vice-president in his final year.

In 2015, he was elected President of Italy by the Parliament in joint session. He was re-elected for a second term in 2022, a rare occurrence. As President, his role is largely ceremonial but he plays a crucial role in times of political instability, acting as a guarantor of the Constitution and a mediator between institutions. He is known for his reserved demeanor, his integrity, and his strong defense of democratic principles.