Dini, Lamberto (1932– )

Italian politician, prime minister 1995–96. Director general of the Bank of Italy from 1979, he was brought into government, as treasury minister, by Premier Silvio Berlusconi in 1994. On the latter's resignation, Dini was asked to form a non-political ‘technocrat’ government of 20 members. He declared three priorities: improving public finances, regulating political parties' access to the media, and reforming electoral procedures.

In the months following his appointment, Dini made real progress in achieving his objectives, but in November 1995 faced a no-confidence motion from Berlusconi's party, Forza Italia, over his economic policy. He resigned, but agreed to remain as caretaker prime minister until the April 1996 general elections, when he was succeeded by Romano Prodi, who gave Dini the foreign-affairs portfolio.