Politics Italy's President Mattarella gets a pacemaker
Italian President Sergio Mattarella has received a pacemaker. Those close to the 83-year-old said afterwards that he had come through the operation in a hospital in Rome well. His state of health is stable.
16.04.2025, 10:58
SDA
Mattarella has been in office since February 2015, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in Europe. Since the end of the Second World War, no one has held the office of president in his home country for longer. He is regarded as a moral authority across party lines. Italy has been governed by a coalition of three right-wing and conservative parties for two and a half years.
Operation planned for some time
On Monday afternoon, Mattarella went to the Santo Spirito Hospital, one of the best-known clinics in the Italian capital. According to those close to him, the operation took place that same evening. The operation had been planned for some time, they said. It remained unclear how long he would have to stay in hospital.
Born in Sicily, he sat in the Chamber of Deputies for 25 years before becoming President, originally for the Christian Democrats and later for the Social Democrats. He was Minister of Education in 1989/90 and Minister of Defense from 1999 to 2001.
