Sergio Mattarella

Sergio Mattarella, born on 23 July 1941, is an Italian politician who has served as the president of Italy since 2015. He is the longest-serving president in the history of the Italian Republic. After the passing of Giorgio Napolitano in 2023, Mattarella is the only living Italian president.

As a Catholic leftist, Mattarella was a key member of the Christian Democracy party from the early 1980s until it ended. He held several important government roles, including Minister for Parliamentary Relations and Minister of Education. Later, he helped found the Italian People's Party and served as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Defence. He was also a judge on the Constitutional Court of Italy before becoming president.

Mattarella was elected president on 31 January 2015, with support from the centre-left coalition. He agreed to serve a second term in 2022, making him only the second Italian president to be re-elected. During his time as president, Italy has faced many challenges, including the effects of the Great Recession, the 2015 European migrant crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been praised for his fair leadership and ability to bring different groups together, even during difficult times.

Early life

Sergio Mattarella was born in Palermo on July 23, 1941, into a well-known family from Sicily. His father, Bernardo Mattarella, was a politician who helped start the Christian Democracy party and served in the government many times. His mother, Maria Buccellato, came from a respected family in Trapani.

When Mattarella was young, his family moved to Rome because of his father's work. There, he joined a large group called Azione Cattolica, which helped young people learn about their faith and community. He studied law at the Sapienza University of Rome and later became a lawyer and teacher. He got married in 1966 and had three children.

In 1980, tragedy struck when his older brother, Piersanti Mattarella, who was a leader in Sicily, was killed. After this, Mattarella decided to leave his teaching job and begin a career in politics.

Political career

Sergio Mattarella began his political career in important roles within his party. He was first elected to the Italian Parliament in 1983, representing Palermo. During his time in Parliament, he worked closely with leaders who supported agreements between different political groups.

Mattarella held several government positions over the years. He served as a minister responsible for relations between the government and Parliament. He also became the Minister of Education, where he worked on improving schools and helping to create new educational programs. Later, he helped draft important voting laws to change how elections were held in Italy.

In the 1990s, Mattarella was involved in forming new political groups after big changes in Italy’s politics. He supported efforts to create a stronger group of centre-left parties. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister and worked on reforms related to important government services.

Mattarella later became a judge on Italy’s Constitutional Court, where he helped decide important legal cases before becoming President of Italy in 2015.

Presidency (2015–present)

First term (2015–2022)

On 31 January 2015, Mattarella was elected president of Italy. He replaced Giorgio Napolitano, who had served for eight years. Mattarella’s first visit as president was to a place where many people were sadly killed during World War II. He spoke about the importance of unity to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

One important moment during his first term was when Italy faced a big decision about changing some laws. Many people voted against the change, and the prime minister at the time decided to step down. Mattarella then appointed a new leader to guide the country.

In 2018, Italy held elections and the results were very mixed, making it hard to form a new government. Mattarella worked with leaders from different parties to try to find a solution. Eventually, after some difficulties, a new government was formed.

Second term (2022–present)

In 2022, Mattarella agreed to serve a second term as president after many leaders asked him to continue. He spoke about the need for unity in Italy and condemned actions that threatened peace, especially during the conflict in Ukraine.

During his second term, Italy went through another election in 2022. A new leader, Giorgia Meloni, became the country’s first female prime minister. Mattarella continued to speak about important issues, such as treating people fairly during protests and the importance of voting in elections.

Personal life and public image

Sergio Mattarella married Marisa Chiazzese in 1966. They had three children: Laura, Bernardo Giorgio, and Francesco. Marisa passed away in 2012, and their daughter Laura has often accompanied her father on official trips. Mattarella is a Catholic and comes from a family with a strong history in public service.

Mattarella enjoys watching association football and supports Inter Milan. As Italy's president, he attended important football events, including the UEFA Euro 2020 final where Italy won. He also opened the Winter Olympics in Milan in February 2026 and the Winter Paralympics in Verona later that year. Throughout his time as president, Mattarella has remained very popular, with high approval ratings among Italians and leaders around the world. In April 2025, he had a medical procedure to have a pacemaker fitted.

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Honours

Sergio Mattarella has received many important awards and honors from Italy and other countries. These honors show the respect he has earned for his work and leadership.

He has been given the highest awards from Italy, including the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and the Military Order of Italy. Many countries have also honored him, such as Algeria, Angola, Argentina, and many more. These awards include titles like the National Order of Merit and the Order of the Liberator General San Martin.