Walter Veltroni

Walter Veltroni is the leader of Italy's Democratic Party and was a candidate in the 2008 Italy Election. He served as mayor of Rome from 2003 until his resignation on February 13, 2008. Veltroni, one of Italy's most popular center-left politicians, was one of the first foreign supporters of Barack Obama, a relationship that dates back to a 2005 meeting. He is often referred to as "Obama's European counterpart." On April 14, 2008 he conceded defeat to Silvio Berlusconi.

1. Born: July 3, 1955
2. Birhtplace: Rome, Italy
3. Leader of the Democratic Party
4. Political philosophy: center-left
5. Deputy Prime Minister of Italy May 17, 1996 to October 21, 1998
6. Mayor of Rome June 1, 2001 to February 13, 2008
7. Worked as a journalist before entering politics
8. Supporter of Barack Obama since 2005
9. Often called "Obama's European counterpart"

• Google News: Walter Veltroni
• The Associated Press: Veltroni Concedes Defeat in Italy (April 14, 2008)
• The Press Association: Veltroni Concedes Election Defeat (April 14, 2008)
• Times Online: Silvio Berlusconi Rival Mimics Labour for Election Fight (March 16, 2008)
  • "Walter Veltroni, who is fighting the billionaire tycoon Silvio Berlusconi for the Italian premiership, says he models his party on Labour and plans to form the country’s first one-party government."
• AGI News: Veltroni Says Italy Must Turn Page Or Risk Decline (March 13, 2008)
• Bloomberg: Veltroni Breaks With Coalitions to Take on Berlusconi (March 12, 2008)
• Times Online: ‘Blair Mayor’ Walter Veltroni Takes Helm of New Italian Party (October 17, 2007)