March 30, 2006. Copyright 2006, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Quiet man of Italian politics on course to regain power
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, March 30, Graphic News:  At first glance, thereÕs not much about Romano Prodi to excite Italians. Mild-mannered and lacking charisma, Silvio BerlusconiÕs election opponent is the straight man in a political theatre long dominated by the scene-stealing performance of its prime minister.

For Italians tiring of their flamboyant leader, however, that might be the precise reason to vote for Prodi and his centre-left coalition, The Union, formerly known as the Olive Tree coalition. Another is the former economics professorÕs much-praised plan to rescue the countryÕs struggling finances, which have slid further into the mire under BerlusconiÕs centre-right regime.

As for Prodi, election victory would mean a chance to finish a job he started during an earlier, brief spell as prime minister. It might also give him an opportunity to re-route Italy, which has turned away from Europe and set its sights on Washington in recent years.

Born in Reggio Emilia on August 9, 1939, Prodi qualified in law in Milan and studied at both the London School of Economics and Harvard before taking up a teaching post at the University of Bologna. His nickname -- the Professor -- dates back to that period.

After entering politics in the 1970s, Prodi held various posts in the left-wing government of Giulio Andreotti, and in 1978 was appointed Minister of Industry. During two terms as   chairman of the mighty state-owned industrial holding company IRI (1982-1989 and 
1993-1994), he faced allegations of corruption, but later received a full acquittal.

In 1995 Prodi became chairman of the Olive Tree coalition, and in 1996 he was elected prime minister. Two years later, his government collapsed after the Communist Refoundation Party withdrew its support.

In September 1999 Prodi was appointed to lead the European Commission after the entire body resigned in the wake of a report detailing sleaze allegations. He served as President until March 2004, and is credited with restoring public faith in the institution, as well as successfully campaigning for the introduction of the European single currency, the euro.

Nevertheless, the role also exposed his lack of charisma and poor communication skills that alienated EU colleagues, including BritainÕs Tony Blair. In a recent televised debate against Berlusconi, a more animated performance by Prodi (he has also been called the Mortadella, after a bland regional sausage) suggested that even he had consulted the 
image-makers.

In any case, ProdiÕs modest lifestyle -- he is often seen bicycling around his home town of Bologna -- is seen by many as an antidote to the lavish ways that Berlusconi has maintained while many Italians are now worse off than when he took over in 2001.   

If he wins, ProdiÕs main task will be to hold together a coalition whose members canÕt agree on issues ranging from the environment to same sex marriages. He will need  consensus to push through plans to reform the public sector and trim labour costs. Prodi must also combat claims that his much-vaunted euro is to blame for the current economic woes.

He is married to his childhood sweetheart Flavia, with whom he has two children.
/ENDS