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{{short description|Italian politician (born 1986)}}{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

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19866|df=y}}| birth_place = Avellino, Italy| death_date = | death_place = | party = Five Star Movement>M5S (2009–2022)Civic Commitment–Together for the Future>IpF (2022)Independent (2022–present)| partner = Alessia D'Alessandro (since 2023)Chi è Alessia D’Alessandro, la fidanzata di Luigi Di Maio: “Politica o influencer?”. Il Riformista| signature = Luigi Di Maio signature.svg}}Luigi Di Maio ({{IPA-it|luˈiːdʒi di ˈmaːjo}}; born 6 July 1986) is an Italian politician who has been serving as EU Special Representative for the Gulf region since 1 June 2023. Di Maio also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2019 to 2022, as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Social Policies from 2018 to 2019, and as Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies in the 17th Italian legislature.From September 2017 to January 2020, Di Maio was the leader of the Five Star Movement, an anti-establishment party founded by Beppe Grillo.WEB,weblink Italy Challenges the Postwar Order - Alessandra Bocchi, First Things, 2 June 2018, 17 February 2019, WEB,weblink Di Maio candidato premier M5S con quasi 31mila voti, Il Sole 24 ORE, 23 September 2017, 17 February 2019, He resigned from this position to quell discontent and stem the flow of party desertions and expulsions after he led the party into coalition with the centre-left Democratic Party.NEWS, Giuffrida, Angela, 22 January 2020, Luigi Di Maio resigns as leader of Italy's Five Star Movement,weblink 23 September 2021, The Guardian, In June 2022, Di Maio left the M5S due to tensions with Giuseppe Conte over providing support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, founding his own political group, Together for the Future (IpF).NEWS,weblink M5S: nome gruppo Di Maio sarà 'Insieme per il futuro', Adkronos, it, 21 June 2022, 26 September 2022, IpF had a brief life, being disbanded following a poor performance in the 2022 Italian general election (in which it ran within the Civic Commitment electoral list alongside Democratic Centre).WEB,weblink Di Maio presenta il nuovo partito, Grillo: 'Arrivano gli zombie', Today, it, 1 August 2022, 26 September 2022,

Early life

Luigi Di Maio was born in Avellino, in 1986; he was the eldest of three brothers. His father Antonio was a small real estate entrepreneur and local councilor for the Italian Social Movement (MSI), while his mother was a teacher of Italian and Latin.WEB,weblink Di Maio, ecco la foto di papà e lo strano segreto svelato: "Sapete con chi sta?" / Foto, Liberoquotidiano.it, 17 February 2019,weblink 14 July 2019, dead, WEB,weblink M5s, i due padri fascisti antesignani del "vaffa": il lessico familiare di Di Maio e Di Battista, 23 June 2017, Repubblica.it, 17 February 2019, Di Maio attended the Liceo classico and then he enrolled at the University of Naples Federico II to study engineering, but after failing, subsequently changing to law. Di Maio is a dropout and never graduated from university.WEB,weblink Scalfarotto attacca Di Maio: 'Vorrei vedere il suo curriculum, non è nemmeno laureato', Tiscali Notizie, 3 August 2016, 17 February 2019, WEB,weblink Blog - M5s, conosciamo davvero Luigi Di Maio?, 30 January 2017, Il Fatto Quotidiano, 17 February 2019, In 2007, he was registered as an apprentice journalist, later attempting to work as a webmaster. He would then become a concessions vendor selling water at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples.NEWS, Luigi Di Maio, il più politico del M5S "scala" il Movimento anti-politica,weblink Manuela Perrone, Il Sole 24 Ore, 22 September 2017, 23 November 2017, WEB,weblink Di Maio? Un faccino pulito che ha fatto un solo mestiere: lo steward al San Paolo per vedersi il Napoli gratis, 26 November 2017, L’Huffington Post, 17 February 2019, WEB, Di Maio? Non steward ma venditore di bibite,weblink 5 December 2018, NeXt Quotidiano, 18 February 2019, WEB,weblink L'ultima su Di Maio: "Steward allo stadio? No, vendeva bibite", 5 December 2018, Giornalettismo.com, 17 February 2019,

Political career

In 2007, Di Maio was among the founders of the political group "Friends of Beppe Grillo", the predecessors of the Five Star Movement (M5S), founded by the popular comedian in October 2009.WEB,weblink Blog di Beppe Grillo - Stiglitz e Le Liste Civiche, Beppegrillo.it, 15 April 2009, 2013-06-18,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130227044700weblink">weblink 27 February 2013, dead, In 2010, he ran in the Council elections of Pomigliano, in which the Five Star Movement obtained 548 votes and Di Maio 59, ranking first among the candidates of his party, but not enough to be elected.WEB,weblink Comunali 2010/ Pomigliano al Pdl, 22 February 2010,

2013 general election

In the 2013 election, he was nominated as candidate for the M5S with 189 online votesWEB,weblink L'Irresistibile ascesa di Luigi di Maio Volto M5S che studia da premier, espresso.repubblica.it, 11 January 2022,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150707113047weblink">weblink 7 July 2015, dead, and elected to the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament at 26 years old. On 21 March 2013, he became the youngest Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies.WEB,weblink Di Maio, Luigi - M5S, Camera.it, 25 February 2014, NEWS, Luigi Di Maio, il ventiseienne napoletano, nuovo vicepresidente della Camera,weblink Pino Neri, Il Mattino, 22 March 2013, 25 February 2014, 25 February 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140225094514weblink">weblink dead, On 12 July 2017, Di Maio was formally investigated for defamation following a complaint filed by Marika Cassimatis, former M5S mayoral candidate in Genoa,WEB,weblink Comunarie Genova, Di Maio indagato per diffamazione, 13 July 2017, Repubblica.it, 17 February 2019, while, on 28 July 2017, the journalist Elena Polidori filed a complaint against him also for defamation. Di Maio invoked his parliamentary immunity; he had previously criticized that privilege and pledged never to avail himself of it.WEB,weblink "Di Maio non rinuncia all'immunità parlamentare", Pd attacca il candidato premier grillino, 5 December 2017, L’Huffington Post, 17 February 2019, In 2017, Beppe Grillo announced that he would campaign in the 2018 election, but he would not be the candidate for the position of prime minister. Di Maio was considered as the front runner and the most likely candidate for the premiership of Italy.WEB,weblink Aldo Giannuli, storico consigliere di Grillo e Casaleggio: "Primarie bulgare per far vincere Di Maio", 6 September 2017, L’Huffington Post, 17 February 2019, Di Maio had been often labeled as the most pragmatic and "institutional", but also the least populist Five Star politician; he is considered the leader of the moderate and "governmental" faction of the movement.NEWS, Cerami, Gabriella, 18 September 2017, Luigi Di Maio e i soliti ignoti, it, Di Maio and the usual suspects,weblink Huffington Post Italia, 30 May 2018, NEWS, Sannino, Conchita, Vechhio, Conceto, 23 June 2017, M5s, i due padri fascisti antesignani del "vaffa": il lessico familiare di Di Maio e Di Battista, it, M5s, the two fascist pioneers of the "goscrews": the family lexicon of Di Maio and Di Battista,weblink La Repubblica, 30 May 2018, No other leading members of the M5S, such as Alessandro Di Battista, a politician and personal friend of Di Maio, or Roberto Fico, leader of the M5S left-wing faction and rival of Di Maio and Di Battista, would run for the office.NEWS, 18 September 2017, M5s, no by Fico and Di Battista: 7 premier candidates challenge Di Maio, M5s, the two fascist pioneers of the "goscrews": the family lexicon of Di Maio and Di Battista,weblink Giornale di Sicilia, 30 May 2018, Di Maio's opponents were the Senator (:it:Elena Fattori|Elena Fattori) (Vice President of the 9th Permanent Senate Committee) and six other city councilors.WEB,weblink M5s, primarie in rete: 8 candidati premier. La senatrice Fattori sfida Di Maio. Rinunciano Fico, Morra e Di Battista, 18 September 2017, Il Fatto Quotidiano, 17 February 2019, Many of them were almost unknown and this led to a lot of criticism from the Democratic Party, Lega Nord and Forza Italia,WEB,weblink M5S. Oggi si vota il candidato premier. Sette 'sconosciuti' sfidano Di Maio, rainews, 21 September 2017, 17 February 2019, which considered this ballot a false primary election, with the only aim of appointing Di Maio as M5S candidate without any real challenger.WEB,weblink Un nome forte e percentuali bulgare: primarie M5s copiate (male) da Pd e Lega, Pasquale, Napolitano, ilGiornale.it, 20 September 2017, 17 February 2019,

2018 general election

{{See also|2018 Italian government formation}}In September 2017 Di Maio was elected Prime Ministerial candidate and Political Head of the M5S,WEB, Passarin, Sara Greta, 2022-04-10, Luigi Di Maio, biografia e curriculum del politico italiano,weblink 2022-08-05, True News., it-IT, with more than 82% of the vote.WEB,weblink M5s, Di Maio eletto candidato premier e nuovo capo politico. Ma alle primarie votano solo in 37 mila, 23 September 2017, Repubblica.it, 17 February 2019, Before the 2018 general election, Di Maio announced a referendum to quit the Euro and stated his position to leave.WEB, 2017-03-23, Europa, Di Maio: "Con noi al governo referendum per decidere se uscire dall'Euro",weblink 2023-01-18, Il Fatto Quotidiano, it-IT, He proposed to dismantle the NATO alliance and criticised the United States commitment against Russia.WEB, M5s, rivedere Nato, ma no referendum {{!, ANSA.it |url=https://www.ansa.it/amp/sito/notizie/politica/2017/01/13/m5s-rivedere-nato-ma-no-referendum_cf7c5733-be6b-4822-9cb9-b6b80ad86400.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.ansa.it}}In the 2018 general election, the M5S became the party with the largest number of votes and of parliamentary seats, while the centre-right alliance, in which Matteo Salvini's League emerged as the main political force, won a plurality of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate and the centre-left coalition, led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, came third.WEB,weblink Elezioni politiche: vincono M5s e Lega. Crollo del Partito democratico. Centrodestra prima coalizione. Il Carroccio sorpassa Forza Italia, 4 March 2018, Repubblica.it, However, no political group or party won an outright majority, resulting in a hung parliament.WEB,weblink Elezioni 2018: M5S primo partito, nel centrodestra la Lega supera FI, Alessandro, Sala, Corriere.it, 2018, (File:Luigi Di Maio May 2018.jpg|thumb|180px|left|Di Maio in May 2018)On 7 April, Di Maio made an appeal to the PD to "bury the hatchet" and consider a governing coalition with his party.WEB,weblink Five Star Movement (M5S) courts Democratic Party (PD) for Italian coalition, Dw.com, 17 February 2019, On 7 May, President Mattarella held a third round of government formation talks, after which he formally confirmed the lack of any possible majority (M5S rejecting an alliance with the whole centre-right coalition, PD rejecting an alliance with both M5S and the centre-right coalition, and the League's Matteo Salvini refusing to start a government with M5S but without Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, whose presence in the government was explicitly vetoed by M5S's leader Luigi Di Maio); on the same circumstance, he announced his intention to soon appoint a "neutral government" (irrespective of M5S and League's refusal to support such an option) to take over from the Gentiloni Cabinet which was considered unable to lead Italy into a second consecutive election as it was representing a majority from a past legislature, and offering an early election in July (on what it would be the very first time for a summer general election in Italy) as a realistic option to take into consideration due to the deadlock situation.NEWS,weblink The Guardian, 9 May 2018, 7 May 2018, Italian president says 'neutral' government should lead until end of year, The Lega and M5S agreed to hold new elections on 8 July, an option that was however rejected by all other parties.WEB,weblink Staatspräsident erklärt Regierungsbildung für gescheitert, DIE ZEIT, 7 May 2018, WEB,weblink Regierungsbildung ist gescheitert – Italien steht vor Neuwahlen, Handelsblatt, 7 May 2018, 17 May 2018, 8 May 2018,weblink dead, NEWS,weblink Italy repeat election looms in July as parties still far apart, Giorgio, Massimiliano Di, U.K., 7 May 2018, On 9 May, after a day of rumours surfaced, both Di Maio and Salvini officially requested President Mattarella to give them 24 more hours to strike a government agreement between the two parties.NEWS,weblink Financial Times, 9 May 2018, 9 May 2018, Italy's populist parties given 24 hours to avert fresh elections, Later the same day, in the evening, Silvio Berlusconi publicly announced Forza Italia would not support a M5S-League government on a vote of confidence, but he would still maintain the centre-right alliance nonetheless, thus opening the doors to a possible majority government between the two parties.NEWS,weblink La Repubblica, 9 May 2018, 9 May 2018, Governo M5S-Lega, Berlusconi: nessun veto all'intesa ma no alla fiducia, it, On 13 May, 5 Star Movement and League reached an agreement in principle on a government program, likely clearing the way for the formation of a governing coalition between the two parties, but could not find an agreement regarding the members of a government cabinet, most importantly the prime minister. M5S and League leaders met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on 14 May to guide the formation of a new government.NEWS,weblink MarketWatch.com, 13 May 2018, Italy's populist 5 Star, League parties reach deal on government program, On their meeting with President Mattarella, both parties asked for an additional week of negotiations to agree on a detailed government program and a prime minister to lead the joint government. Both M5S and the League announced their intention to ask their respective members to vote on the government agreement by the weekend.File:Di Maio Toninelli Grillo.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Di Maio at the Quirinal PalaceQuirinal PalaceOn 21 May 2018, Di Maio and Salvini proposed the private law professor Giuseppe Conte for the role of Prime Minister in the 2018 Italian government,NEWS,weblink Chi è Giuseppe Conte, scelto da Luigi Di Maio per la possibile squadra di governo, formiche.net, 28 February 2018, it, 2 June 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180612141200weblink">weblink 12 June 2018, dead, NEWS,weblink BBC News, Italy populist government pact: Candidate for prime minister named, 21 May 2018, 24 May 2018, NEWS,weblink Italian president in talks as populist parties put forward novice for PM, The Guardian, despite reports in the Italian press suggesting that President Mattarella still had significant reservations about the direction of the new government.NEWS,weblink Italy's Populists Move Closer to Power, With Little-Known Pick for Prime Minister, The New York Times, 21 May 2018, limited, Horowitz, Jason, On 23 May 2018, Conte was invited to the Quirinal Palace to receive the presidential mandate to form a new cabinet.WEB,weblink The Latest: Premier-designate confirms Italy's place in EU, Abcnews.go.com, 2 June 2018, WEB,weblink Di Battista all'attacco di Mattarella: "Non si opponga agli italiani". La lunga giornata del Colle, 23 May 2018, Repubblica.it, 2 June 2018, In the traditional statement after the appointment, Conte said that he would be the “defense lawyer of Italian people”.WEB,weblink Governo, Conte incaricato da Mattarella: "Sarò lʼavvocato difensore degli italiani", Tgcom24.com, 2 June 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180524081854weblink">weblink 24 May 2018, dead, However, Conte renounced to his office on 27 May due to contrasts between Salvini and President Mattarella. In fact, Salvini proposed the university professor Paolo Savona as Minister of Economy and Finances, but Mattarella strongly opposed him, considering Savona too Eurosceptic and anti-German.WEB,weblink Governo, il giorno della rinuncia di Conte. Ecco come è fallita la trattativa su Savona, 27 May 2018, Repubblica.it, 2 June 2018, In his speech after Conte's resignation, Mattarella declared that the two parties wanted to bring Italy out of the Eurozone, and as the guarantor of Italian Constitution and country's interest and stability he could not allow this.WEB,weblink L'ora più buia di Mattarella: la scelta obbligata di difendere l'interesse nazionale dopo il no dei partiti alla soluzione Giorgetti per l'Economia, 27 May 2018, Huff Post, 2 June 2018, WEB,weblink Governo, firme e tweet di solidarietà a Mattarella. Ma spuntano anche minacce di morte, 27 May 2018, Repubblica.it, 2 June 2018, On the following day, Mattarella gave Carlo Cottarelli, a former director of the International Monetary Fund, the task of forming a new government.NEWS,weblink Cottarelli accetta l'incarico: "Senza fiducia il Paese al voto dopo agosto", 2018-05-28, Repubblica.it, 2018-05-28, it, On 28 May 2018, the Democratic Party (PD) announced that it would abstain from voting the confidence to Cottarelli, while the Five Star Movement and the center-right parties Forza Italia (FI), Brothers of Italy (FdI) and the League announced their vote against.NEWS,weblink Berlusconi: "No alla fiducia e centrodestra unito al voto". Ma Salvini: "Alleanza con Fi? Ci penserò", 2018-05-28, Repubblica.it, 2018-05-29, it, NEWS,weblink Pd, Martina: "Fiducia a Cottarelli". Renzi: "Salviamo il Paese". E i dem: manifestazione nazionale a Roma il 1° giugno, 2018-05-28, Repubblica.it, 2018-05-29, it, Cottarelli was expected to submit his list of ministers for approval to President Mattarella on 29 May. However, on 29 May and 30 May he held only informal consultations with the President, waiting for the formation of a “political government”.NEWS,weblink Incontro informale in corso tra Cottarelli e MattarellaI tre scenari possibili, Online, Redazione, Corriere della Sera, 2018-05-30, it-IT, NEWS,weblink Governo, Cottarelli vede Mattarella. Ora al lavoro alla Camera. Riparte la trattativa giallo-verde, 2018-05-30, Repubblica.it, 2018-05-30, it, Meanwhile, Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio announced their willingness to restart the negotiations to form a political government, Giorgia Meloni, leader of FdI, gave her support to the initiative.NEWS,weblink Di Maio: "Impeachment non più sul tavolo". E si riapre l'ipotesi di un governo Lega-M5s, 2018-05-29, Repubblica.it, 2018-05-30, it, On 31 May, M5S and the League reached an agreement to form a new government, without Paolo Savona as finance minister (he became minister of European affairs instead), and with Conte at its head.WEB,weblink Governo, Conte accetta l'incarico e presenta la lista: 18 ministri, 5 le donne. Tria all'Economia, 31 May 2018, rEpubblica.it, 2 June 2018, NEWS,weblink Nasce il governo Conte. Presentata a Mattarella la lista dei ministri. Di Maio e Salvini vicepremier, RaiNews, it, 1 June 2018, 1 June 2018,

Deputy Prime Minister (2018–2019)

{{See also|Conte I Cabinet}}File:John Bolton and Italian Deputy PM Di Maio.jpg|thumb|right|Di Maio with U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton at the White HouseWhite HouseDi Maio was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Social Policies in the first Conte government on 1 June 2018.NEWS, Churm, Philip Andrew, Italy's new government: Who's who?,weblink 24 April 2020, euronews, 6 June 2018, As minister, he implemented the so-called "citizens' income" (), a system of social welfare provision that provides a basic income and assistance in finding a job to poor people and families,NEWS, Italy's government launches 'citizens' income' website,weblink 4 January 2020, thelocal.it, 4 February 2019,weblink 31 October 2019, live, which was one of the main proposal of the M5S 2018 campaign.NEWS, Giuffrida, Angela, Italy rolls out 'citizens' income' for the poor amid criticisms,weblink 4 January 2020, The Guardian, 6 March 2019,weblink 30 November 2019, live, The income was set to a maximum of €780 per month, and in its first year the program had almost 2.7 million applications.NEWS, Hurst, Luke, What is Italy's new 'Citizens' Income' scheme? {{!, Euronews Answers |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/06/what-is-italy-s-new-citizens-income-scheme-euronews-answers |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=euronews |agency=Reuters |date=6 March 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016155451weblink |archive-date=16 October 2019 |url-status=live }}NEWS, 2.7 million people apply for Italy's basic income scheme,weblink 4 January 2020, thelocal.it, 24 April 2019,weblink 25 September 2019, live, In May 2019, Di Maio's party suffered a huge defeat, changing from 32,68% (March 2018) till 17,06%, the biggest change in history in 14 months.In August 2019, Di Maio's co-serving Deputy Prime Minister, Salvini, announced a motion of no confidence against Conte, after growing tensions within the majority and after Salvini was trying to lead the government after massively winning the elections of May 2019.WEB,weblink La Lega presenta al Senato una mozione di sfiducia a Conte. M5S attacca Salvini: "Giullare", rainews, 9 August 2019, Salvini's move came right after a vote in the Senate regarding the progress of the Turin–Lyon high-speed railway, in which the Lega voted against an attempt of the M5S to block the construction works.NEWS, Il Senato ha bocciato la mozione del M5S sulla TAV,weblink 1 September 2019, Il Post, 7 August 2019, it-IT, Many political analysts believe the no confidence motion was an attempt to force early elections to improve Lega's standing in Parliament, ensuring Salvini could become the next prime minister.NEWS,weblink Italy's League files no confidence motion in prime minister in bid to trigger election, Nick, Squires, August 9, 2019, www.telegraph.co.uk, The Telegraph, NEWS, Italian Senate to set date for no-confidence vote as Salvini pushes for elections,weblink 27 September 2019, France 24, 13 August 2019, en, NEWS, Giuffrida, Angela, Italian senate to set date for no-confidence vote in government,weblink 27 September 2019, The Guardian, 12 August 2019, On 20 August, following the parliamentary debate in which Conte harshly accused Salvini of being a political opportunist who "had triggered the political crisis only to serve his personal interest",NEWS,weblink Italian PM resigns with attack on 'opportunist' Salvini, Angela, Giuffrida, August 20, 2019, www.theguardian.com, The Guardian, the Prime Minister resigned his post to President Sergio Mattarella.NEWS,weblink Italy's Government Collapses, Turning Chaos Into Crisis, Jason, Horowitz, August 20, 2019, The New York Times,

Minister of Foreign Affairs (2019–2022)

{{See also|Conte II Cabinet|Draghi Cabinet|Together for the Future}}File:Secretary Pompeo Meets with Foreign Minister Di Maio (48832222747).jpg|thumb|left|Di Maio with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike PompeoMike PompeoAfter Conte's resignation, the national board of the PD officially opened to the possibility of forming a new cabinet in a coalition with the M5S,NEWS,weblink Italian PM resigns with attack on 'opportunist' Salvini, Angela, Giuffrida, The Guardian, 20 August 2019, www.theguardian.com, based on pro-Europeanism, green economy, sustainable development, fight against economic inequality and a new immigration policy.WEB,weblink Governo, Zingaretti: "I 5 punti per trattare con il M5S. No accordicchi, governo di svolta", 21 August 2019, Repubblica.it, Di Maio was initially contrary and rumors grew about the possibility of forming a second cabinet between M5S and Lega, with Di Maio himself as PM.NEWS, Di Maio: "La Lega mi ha offerto di fare il premier, rifiuto con gratitudine",weblink 24 April 2020, www.ilmessaggero.it, 28 August 2019, it, However, the PD later accepted the M5S offer to keep Conte as head of the new government,NEWS,weblinkweblink dead, 2019-08-28, Conte wins crucial support for new Italian govt coalition, Washington Post, and on 29 August President Mattarella formally invested Conte to do so.WEB, Il Presidente Mattarella ha conferito l'incarico al Prof. Conte di formare il Governo,weblink Quirinale, 29 August 2019, it, On 1 September, Five Star's founder Beppe Grillo strongly endorsed an alliance with the PD, describing it as a "unique occasion" to reform the country.WEB,weblink L'appello di Grillo ai "ragazzi del Pd": "È il vostro momento", Agi, After two days, on 3 September, the members of the Five Star Movement voted in favor of an agreement with the Democrats, under the premiership of Giuseppe Conte, with more than 79% of favorable votes out of nearly 80,000 voters.WEB,weblink Governo, via libera di Rousseau all'intesa M5s-Pd con il 79% dei voti. Conte domattina al Quirinale, September 3, 2019, Repubblica.it, On 5 September, Di Maio was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the new government.NEWS, Amante, Angelo, Jones, Gavin, Factbox: The main ministers in Italy's new government,weblink 24 April 2020, Reuters, 4 September 2019, en, On 22 January 2020, four days before crucial elections in a few regions, Di Maio resigned as leader of the M5S,WEB, Passarin, Sara Greta, 2022-04-10, Luigi Di Maio, biografia e carriera del politico italiano,weblink 2022-08-11, True News., it-IT, due to the increasing criticism for his choices as leader.M5s, Di Maio si dimette da capo politico: "Bisogna rifondarsi, i peggiori nemici sono all'interno. Basta pugnalate alle spalle", la RepubblicaIn early 2020, Di Maio supported the government-imposed nationwide lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.NEWS, Lowen, Mark,weblink Italy says lockdown can work as deaths top 1,000, 2020-03-12, BBC News, 2020-03-12, en-GB, In November 2018, Silvia Romano, a 23-year-old Italian aid worker, was kidnapped in Kenya by a group of terrorists linked to Al-Shabaab.Chi è Silvia Romano, la volontaria con l'Africa e i bambini nel cuore, Famiglia Cristiana On 9 May 2020, Conte announced her liberation in a tweet."Silvia Romano è stata liberata! Ringrazio le donne e gli uomini dei servizi di intelligence esterna. Silvia, ti aspettiamo in Italia!", Twitter Immediately after the announcement, speculations rose about the ransom paid to the kidnappers, which according to some sources stood at around €4 million.Silvia Romano e il giallo del presunto riscatto da 4 milioni, Yahoo News Moreover, Romano became the target of a hate campaign by the right-wing opposition due to her conversion to Islam, occurred during the captivity.Freed Italian aid worker target of hate campaign after conversion, Al Jazeera During a discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, Alessandro Pagano, a member of the League, called her a "neo-terrorist".Deputato leghista: "Silvia Romano neo-terrorista". E alla Camera scoppia la bagarre, la Repubblica(File:49987776811 90a08c2876 o cropped.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Di Maio in 2020)On 1 September 2020, two Italian fishing boats were detained by the Libyan Coast Guard, along with their crews of eighteen members total, while allegedly fishing in Libya's territorial waters in the Southern Mediterranean.Italy condemns detention of fishermen seized off eastern Libya, Reuters Prime Minister Conte and Minister Di Maio asked for the immediately release, but the Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar denied it, demanding a prisoner exchange.Libyan warlord 'demands prisoner exchange' with Italy for captured fishermen, The Guardian On 17 December 2020, Conte announced that the eighteen fishermen were freed."Bengasi, liberi i pescatori italiani", la RepubblicaIn December 2020, Di Maio announced the incoming transfer to Italy of Enrico "Chico" Forti,Il caso Chico Forti e l'elogio dei cattivi, Huffington Post Italia an Italian murderer who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Dale Pike, son of Ibiza Pikes Hotel owner Tony Pike.The case against Enrico Forti: is he the Italian Amanda Knox, CBS“Chico Forti tornerà in Italia”: l’annuncio del ministro Di Maio. Ex produttore televisivo era detenuto da 20 anni, Il Fatto Quotidiano On 23 December, Di Maio stated: "This is an extremely important result, which rewards a long and patient political and diplomatic work. We have never forgotten Chico Forti, who will finally be able to return to his home country, close to his loved ones."."Chico Forti tornerà in Italia", annuncio di Di Maio, Adnkronos However Forti was never transferred to Italy as the deal was found to be poorly done and not applicable to Italian law.{{Citation |title=Che fine ha fatto Chico Forti? - Le Iene |date=2022-12-13 |url=https://www.iene.mediaset.it/video/che-fine-ha-fatto-chico-forti_1193039.shtml |language=it |access-date=2022-12-26}}In February 2021, Giuseppe Conte resigned as prime minister, following Italia Viva's withdrawal from the government. The former President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, was invited by Italian President Sergio Mattarella to form a government of national unity.WEB,weblink Mattarella invites Draghi to form a new government, 2 February 2021, 2 February 2021, Il Fatto Quotidiano, WEB,weblink Mario Draghi accepts mandate to form new Italian government, Financial Times, 3 February 2021, 4 February 2021, Johnson, Miles, Ghiglione, Davide, On 13 February, Di Maio was confirmed as Minister of Foreign Affairs.Luigi Di Maio fa tris: è di nuovo ministro degli Esteri, la RepubblicaIn July 2021, Italy–United Arab Emirates relations hit their lowest point, when Italy became the only country in the world to impose sanctions on the United Arab Emirates.WEB, Finanza, MF Milano, 2021-02-07, Di Maio and Conte made a huge mistake in Dubai - MilanoFinanza.it,weblink 2022-12-26, MF Milano Finanza, it, The UAE expelled Italian soldiers from the key military base of Al Minhad.WEB, Kington, Tom, 2021-06-25, Italian forces kicked out of Middle East base over UAE arms embargo, lawmaker says,weblink 2022-12-26, Defense News, en, File:Secretary Blinken Meets With Italian Foreign Minister Di Maio in Brussels (51065930411).jpg|thumb|left|Di Maio with U.S. Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenAmid the Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Di Maio went to Kyiv on 15 February 2022 to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, while on 17 February, Di Maio had a bilateral meeting with the Russian foreign affairs minister Sergey Lavrov.Ucraina, di Maio: "L'Italia è impegnata per una soluzione diplomatica della crisi", Rai News In Moscow, Di Maio stated that "Italy has always been committed to the front row for a diplomatic solution. [...] Russia and Ukraine can count on Italy to reach a diplomatic solution".Di Maio, si può contare su Italia per soluzione diplomatica, ANSA On 24 February, Vladimir Putin announced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine; Di Maio harshly condemned Russia's attack, asking for the implementation of heavy international sanctions on Russia.Ucraina, Di Maio: "Sulle sanzioni a Mosca siamo per la linea dura", TgCom24In 2022, tensions grew within the M5S between Conte and Di Maio; the two main representatives of the movement clashed many times regarding the policies promoted by the government as well as in the run-up of the 2022 presidential election, during which Conte briefly supported, along with Salvini, the candidacy of Elisabetta Belloni, opposed by Di Maio.Il pranzo riparatore tra Di Maio e Belloni, il segnale per Conte: tutte le amicizie del ministro M5s che preoccupano l’ex premier, Open In June 2022, Conte became particularly critic toward the government's approach to the war in Ukraine and the deployment of military aids to Kyiv's government, on the other hand, Di Maio strongly defended it. Di Maio also labeled the new party's leadership as "immature",M5S, Di Maio verso l'addio: in corso raccolta firme per dare vita a un gruppo autonomo, Sky Tg24 while Conte and his closer allies threatened to expel Di Maio from the movement.Ricciardi sulla divisione nel M5S: "Di Maio insulta la sua comunità politica, da valutare l'espulsione", la Repubblica On 21 June, Di Maio, along with several deputies and senators, left the M5S, founding their own political group, known as Together for the Future (IpF).Scissione M5s, il gruppo di Di Maio si chiamerà "Insieme per il futuro", Il Foglio During a press conference, Di Maio stated: "We had to choose which side of the history to stand. The leaders of the Five Star Movement risked to weaken Italy, putting the government in difficulty for reasons related to their own consensus crisis. I thank the movement for what it has done for me, but from today a new path begins."Scissione M5S, Di Maio: "Dovevamo scegliere da che parte stare della storia. I dirigenti 5Stelle hanno rischiato di indebolire l'Italia", la Repubblica As a result, Di Maio was strongly criticized both from many members of the M5S and from the M5S' founder himself, Grillo, being accused of betraying founding precepts of the M5S he himself had strongly advocated for in the past.Traditore: la base Cinque stelle infuriata con lo strappo di Di Maio, Il Sole 24 oreGrillo: Sosteniamo governo Draghi. Di Maio? Ha tradito come Giuda, Tg24 SkyInsieme per il bromuro, Il Fatto Quotidiano

2022 general election

On 1 August 2022, following the resignation of prime minister Draghi and the call for snap election to be held in September, Di Maio and Bruno Tabacci, leader of Democratic Centre (CD), founded Civic Commitment (IC), a centrist electoral alliance.Elezioni, accordo tra Di Maio e Tabacci, Rai NewsElezioni: Di Maio sigla accordo con Tabacci, ANSA In spite of the affiliation with the Democratic Party, in the election he lost his seat in Parliament, and after his departure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he resigned from Civic Commitment leadership, bringing de facto an end to this electoral list.

After the government

File:P061545-781778.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Di Maio with the European Commissioner Janez LenarčičJanez LenarčičFollowing the electoral defeat, Di Maio retired from politics. On 15 May 2023, he was elected Special Representative of the European Union for the Persian Gulf.Via libera del Consiglio Ue a Di Maio inviato nel Golfo. Il Sole 24 Ore His candidacy, despite being initially opposed by the new Italian government of Giorgia Meloni,Salvini: "Mandare Di Maio a risolvere i problemi del Golfo? Non mi sembra una buona idea. la Repubblica was widely approved by the High Representative Josep Borrell and the European Council.Via libera del Consiglio Ue a Di Maio inviato nel Golfo. ANSA Di Maio officially will hold the position from 1 June 2023, with the aim of developing a stronger, comprehensive and more strategic partnership with the countries in the Gulf.EU appoints a new Special Representative for the Gulf region. European Council

Electoral history{|classwikitable style"width:55%; border:1px #AAAAFF solid"

! width=12%|Election! width=25%|House! width=25%|Constituency! width=5% colspan="2"|Party! width=12%|Votes! width=12%|Result! 2013Chamber of Deputies (Italy)>Chamber of DeputiesCampania>Campania 1Five Star Movement>M5Sname=fn1|Elected in a closed list proportional representation system.}}{{tick|15}} Elected}}! 2018Chamber of Deputies (Italy)>Chamber of DeputiesCampania>Campania 1 – AcerraFive Star Movement>M5S| 95,21915}} Elected! 2022Chamber of Deputies (Italy)>Chamber of DeputiesCampania 1 – Fuorigrotta}}Civic Commitment>IC| 41,743{{cross|15}} Not elected}}{{notelist}}

First-past-the-post elections{| classwikitable styletext-align:right

!colspan=5|2018 general election (C): Acerra!colspan=2|Candidate!Party!Votes!%Luigi Di MaioFive Star Movement| 95,219| 63.4Vittorio SgarbiCentre-right coalition| 30,596| 20.4Antonio FalconeCentre-left coalition| 18,018| 12.0Others| 6,315| 4.1 Total| 150,148| 100.0{| class=wikitable style=text-align:right!colspan=5|2022 general election (C): Fuorigrotta!colspan=2|Candidate!Party!Votes!%Sergio CostaFive Star Movement| 67,936| 39.7Luigi Di MaioCentre-left coalition| 41,743| 24.4Mariarosaria RossiCentre-right coalition| 38,515| 22.5Mara CarfagnaAction (Italian political party) – Italia Viva>IV| 12,144| 7.1Others| 10,700| 6.3 Total| 171,038| 100.0

References

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External links

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• WEB,weblink Will Passion Save Italy?, Kiss, Laura, 3 February 2014, The Huffington Post, 25 April 2014,

{{Deputy Prime Ministers of Italy}}{{Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs}}{{Conte I Cabinet}}{{Conte II Cabinet}}{{Draghi Cabinet}}{{Authority control}}