Renzi, Matteo

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Matteo Renzi, 1975–, Italian political leader, b. Florence, grad. Univ. of Florence (1999). Renzi was a member of the Italian People's party (1996–2002), which merged with other parties to form Democracy Is Freedom—The Daisy (2002–7) and merge with the Democrats of the Left to become the Democratic party (2007–). President of Florence Province from 2004, he was elected mayor of Florence in 2009. Following his election as secretary of the Democratic party in Dec., 2013, his criticisms of Premier Letta's government led to Letta's resignation, and in Feb., 2014, Renzi–who had never been a member of parliament–succeeded him.