Romano Prodi

Romano Prodi (born in Reggio Emilia on August 9, 1939) is an Italian politician and a former President of the European Commission. He earned a degree in law from the Catholic University of Milan and later studied at the London School of Economics. This began a career in Italy's academia as a professor and researcher in Economics, which included brief visiting appointments at Stanford and Harvard universities in the United States. He was for many years a professor at the University of Bologna (1971 ? 1999), in Bologna where he and his family live.

Related Topics:
Romano Prodi - Reggio Emilia - August 9 - 1939 - European Commission - Law - Milan - London School of Economics - Economics - Stanford - Harvard - United States - University of Bologna - 1971 - 1999

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During the mid-1970s, he began to enter Italian politics, and was appointed Minister of Industry in 1978; he held posts on various commissions through the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1995 he became Chairman of the centre-left Ulivo coalition, and in 1996 Prime Minister. His government fell in 1998 when the Communist Refoundation Party withdrew support, allowing the formation of a new government under Massimo D'Alema. This happened by only one vote in the Chamber of Deputies (it is required the support of at least half of the members of both the chambers) and it is still the only case of a parliamentarian crisis in Italian history.

Related Topics:
Minister - 1978 - 1980s - 1995 - Left - Ulivo - 1996 - Prime Minister - 1998 - Communist Refoundation Party - Massimo D'Alema - Chamber of Deputies

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From September 1999 until November 18, 2004, he was the President of the European Commission.

Related Topics:
1999 - November 18 - 2004 - President of the European Commission

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As leader of Italy's coalition The Union, Prodi currently leads the opposition to Silvio Berlusconi's House of Freedoms right-wing government. Prodi is expected to lead the Union in the 2006 general election campaign.

Related Topics:
The Union - Silvio Berlusconi - House of Freedoms - 2006 general election

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Prodi is also a known Bilderberger.

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