Antonio Tajani

Antonio Tajani is an Italian centre-right politician from Forza Italia, serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2022.

Political career

Antonio Tajani was born in Rome in 1953 and studied law at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. Before entering frontline politics, he built his career in journalism, working in Italian media and then at RAI and Il Giornale. This background helped shape his communicative style and his long-standing interest in institutional politics and public debate.

He entered active politics through the post-Forza Italia centre-right sphere in the 1990s, joining the political project created by Silvio Berlusconi. Tajani was elected to the European Parliament and became one of the most recognisable Italian figures in the European People’s Party (EPP) family. In the European Parliament he developed a profile as a pro-business, pro-EU moderate, working on economic and industrial issues and building extensive contacts with European institutions.

His career reached a major point when he was elected President of the European Parliament (2017–2019), one of the most important positions held by an Italian in the EU system. In that role he was responsible for presiding over plenary work and representing the Parliament in interinstitutional relations, reinforcing his reputation as a consensus-building institutional politician.

After years in European office, Tajani returned to the centre of Italian politics. Following the 2022 general election and the formation of Giorgia Meloni’s government, he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2023, after the death of Silvio Berlusconi, he was chosen as Secretary of Forza Italia, becoming the main organiser and public voice of the party.

Relationship with the public

Tajani is generally perceived as a moderate, institutional and media-friendly politician. His long career in Brussels gave him a profile that is more technocratic and diplomatic than populist, and he often speaks in a tone designed to reassure both domestic and international audiences. He is typically strongest among voters and supporters who prefer stability, Atlanticism and pro-Europeanism within the centre-right.

His relationship with civil society is closely tied to his ministerial and European roles: he has regularly engaged with business groups, employers’ organisations and diplomatic circles, especially on foreign policy, trade and industrial questions. He tends to present himself as a bridge between Italy’s domestic political debate and its international commitments.

In the media, Tajani is often treated as a seasoned establishment figure, one of the more experienced centre-right politicians in Italy. He is usually less polarising than many contemporary leaders, though he can be criticised for a cautious, sometimes formulaic communication style. Inside Forza Italia, this relative moderation is an asset, because it fits the party’s self-image as the sober, institutional wing of the right.

Positions and political profile

Tajani’s political profile is defined by moderate conservatism, strong support for European integration, and a clearly pro-NATO and pro-Western foreign policy stance. As Foreign Minister, he has emphasised Italy’s transatlantic alignment, support for Ukraine, and the importance of European coordination on security, energy and migration. On the domestic political stage, he frequently stresses pragmatism, fiscal responsibility, support for business, and institutional reliability.

He is also identified with the traditional Berlusconi-inspired centre-right approach: economically liberal but socially cautious, and inclined to seek accommodation rather than confrontation. Within Forza Italia, he is seen as a guardian of the party’s moderate identity after Berlusconi’s death. Outside the party, supporters often view him as one of the most credible and experienced figures available to the Italian centre-right in government.

A defining moment in his public career was his election as President of the European Parliament, which confirmed his standing in Europe and marked him out as a politician comfortable in complex institutional environments. Another key moment was taking over the leadership of Forza Italia in 2023, when the party faced the challenge of surviving without its founder. In that context, Tajani has represented continuity rather than rupture.

He is generally perceived as cautious and institutional rather than charismatic. This gives him credibility in diplomatic roles, but it can also limit his mass appeal compared with more confrontational Italian leaders. His strengths lie in negotiation, symbolic reassurance and party management, especially in a coalition setting.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Antonio Tajani? Antonio Tajani is an Italian politician from Forza Italia who is currently Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary of the party.

What is Antonio Tajani’s political background? He began as a journalist before moving into centre-right politics, first in the Berlusconi orbit and later in European institutions, where he built most of his career.

What was Antonio Tajani’s role in the European Parliament? He was President of the European Parliament from 2017 to 2019, a senior institutional role that made him one of Italy’s most prominent EU politicians.

What are Tajani’s main political positions? He is generally pro-European, pro-NATO, economically centre-right and supportive of Italy’s role within the Western alliance.

Why is Antonio Tajani important in Forza Italia? After Silvio Berlusconi’s death, Tajani became Secretary of Forza Italia and has played a central role in preserving the party’s moderate identity and organisational continuity.

Is Antonio Tajani mainly a domestic or international politician? He is more widely known for his European and foreign policy experience than for domestic campaigning, though he now plays both roles at the top of the Italian government.