Italy’s Matteo Renzi elected new leader of the left

The rising star of Italy's political left, Matteo Renzi, resoundingly won the leadership of the Democratic Party (PD) in December 2013, making him a leading candidate to be the next prime minister.

The Democratic Party had failed to win a majority in the February 2013 election, leaving PM Enrico Letta to govern in a fragile coalition. Supporters hoped Mr Renzi win a primary vote could reunite a weakened and divided Democratic Party.

On the 18 December 2013, the new leader trod a careful line on labour reform, pledging to overhaul laws blamed for deterring new hiring while avoiding a direct challenge to job protection rules backed by the left's union allies.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The PD’s leadership election might signal the first step in the re-legitimation of the Italian political system http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-pds-leadership-election-might-signal-the-first-step-in-the-re-legitimation-of-the-italian-political-system/

BBC News, 09.12.13: Profile: Florence mayor Matteo Renzi http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25265945

Wikipedia: Matteo Renzi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Renzi

The Guardian, 09.12.13: Florence mayor Matteo Renzi's victory boosts left's election hopes http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/09/florence-mayor-matteo-renzi-victory-italy-democratic

Euronews, 09.12.13: New broom Matteo Renzi is elected as leader of Italy’s centre-left http://www.euronews.com/2013/12/09/new-broom-matteo-renzi-is-elected-as-leader-of-italy-s-centre-left/

EurActiv, 09.12.13: Renzi wins Italian centre-left leadership http://www.euractiv.com/elections/renzi-wins-italian-centre-left-l-news-532207

La Stampa, 09.12.13: Renzi must save Italy from ungovernability (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE134908-Renzi-must-save-Italy-from-ungovernability

Corriere della Sera, 09.12.13: New PD Secretary Renzi Promises 'Real Change' http://www.corriere.it/13_dicembre_09/new-pd-secretary-renzi-promises-real-change-9298f5b8-60d6-11e3-afd4-40bf4f69b5f9.shtml

Blog: Ideas on Europe: from Rome with Love, 09.12.13: Please, Mr. Renzi, debunk this Europe http://fromromewithlove.ideasoneurope.eu/2013/12/09/please-mr-renzi-debunk-this-europe/

EurActiv, 19.12.13: Italy's Renzi treads carefully over labour reform http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/italys-renzi-treads-carefully-la-news-532479

LSE EuroppBlog, 19.12.13: The election of Matteo Renzi as the leader of the PD might herald a ‘New Labour’ style revolution in Italy’s centre-left http://bit.ly/1bQ44VJ

Policy Network: Opinion, 19.12.13: Matteo Renzi: Breaking from the rituals of Rome? http://www.policy-network.net/pno_detail.aspx?ID=4543&title=Matteo-Renzi-Breaking-from-the-rituals-of-Rome

Blog: Policy Network, 27.08.14: The Italian left a crossroads: Where now for the PD? http://www.policy-network.net/pno_detail.aspx?ID=4721&title=The+Italian+left+a+crossroads%3a+Where+now+for+the+PD%3f

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