Amato, Giuliano (1938– )

Italian law professor and socialist politician, prime minister 1992–93 and 2000–01. Heading a centre-left government, Amato was sworn in as Italy's prime minister in April 2000, having served as prime minister 1992–93 and as treasury minister 1999–2000. He was one of the country's few leading socialists to emerge unscathed from the corruption scandals of the early 1990s. As prime minister, Amato showed that he was not afraid to tackle notoriously difficult issues.

During his 1992–93 leadership, Amato was dubbed ‘Doctor Subtle’ for his finesse in reducing public spending. He also survived a currency crisis, which forced him to devalue the lira and remove the currency from the European monetary system altogether. An impressive track record as prime minister included the enforcement of a programme of privatization, persuading union leaders to scrap a scheme tying wages to prices, and the imposition of taxes on luxury items. Although Amato announced he was quitting politics in 1997, he returned as minister without portfolio for constitutional reforms in Prime Minister D'Alema's first government in 1998. He took over as treasury minister in May 1999.

Born in Turin, he studied international law at the University of Pisa and at Columbia University, New York. He was Professor of Comparative International Law at the Universities of Modena, Perugia, Florence and Rome. Amato began his political career in 1958 in the Socialist Party (PSI) for which he was an MP 1983–93. He served as undersecretary to Prime Minister Craxi 1983–1987, and was vice-president of the cabinet 1987–88 and minister for the treasury 1987–89. Amato also served as president of the antitrust organization 1994–97, which promotes fair competition in business.