Marco Zanni (born 11 July 1986) is an Italian politician who has presided over the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament since 2019. He has served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2014, first elected as a member of the Five Star Movement, then reelected for the League in 2019.[1][2]

Marco Zanni
Zanni in 2022
President of the Identity and Democracy
group in the European Parliament
In office
2 July 2019 – 15 July 2024
Preceded byNicolas Bay (ENF)
Succeeded byJordan Bardella (PfE)
Member of the European Parliament
for North-West Italy
In office
1 July 2014 – 15 July 2024
Parliamentary groupEFDD (2014–2017)
ENF (2017–2019)
ID (2019–2024)
Personal details
Born (1986-07-11) 11 July 1986 (age 38)
Bergamo, Italy
Political partyLeague (2018–present)
Other political
affiliations
M5S (2014–2017)
Alma materBocconi University
ESADE Business School

Biography

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Marco Zanni was born in Lovere, near Bergamo, in 1986. He graduated in business administration at the Bocconi University of Milan and then studied at the ESADE Business School in Barcelona. After completing his postgraduate degree, he was hired by Banca IMI, an Italian investment bank.[3]

In May 2014, he stood in the European Parliament election for the populist and Eurosceptic Five Star Movement. He was elected in the North-West Italy constituency, with 16,940 personal preferences.

On 11 January 2017, after the failed attempt of the M5S to join the liberal ALDE group, Zanni left the movement, joining the right-wing Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF) group. On 15 May 2018, he became a member of the League, the right-wing populist party led by Matteo Salvini.

Zanni was re-elected in the 2019 European election, with 18,019 votes. The election was characterized by a strong showing of the League, that became the most-voted party in Italy, with more than 34% of votes. On 13 June, he was appointed leader of the right wing Identity and Democracy (ID) group.

He did not run in the 2024 European elections. Later the Identity and Democracy group was dissolved and reformed into the Patriots for Europe, the role of Chairman of the group would be taken by Jordan Bardella.

References

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  1. ^ "Marco ZANNI". European Parliament. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. ^ "EU to IMPLODE? Italian MEP predicts growing bloc of eurosceptism to challenge Brussels". Daily Express. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  3. ^ Marco Zanni – Beppegrillo.it