Giuliano Poletti

On 12 December 2002 Poletti was elected President of Legacoop, the main is a cooperative federation in Italy, which he led until 21 February 2014, when he was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Policies in the government of Matteo Renzi.

[6] On 12 March 2014, the Cabinet issued a law-decree on fixed-term contracts, called the Poletti Decree, as well as a bill proposing major reforms to the Italian labour market.

The proposal was heavily criticised by the largest Italian trade union, the General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) and its leaders Susanna Camusso and Maurizio Landini.

Before the vote Poletti was forced to cut his speech short due to the loud protests of the Five Star Movement and Lega Nord oppositions, some of whom threw coins and papers.

[12] German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was visiting Milan and had been among the most vocal politicians regarding Italy's need for speedy economic reforms, said the labour law marked an "important step" to reduce "employment barriers" in the Eurozone's third-largest economy.

Giuliano Poletti with President Giorgio Napolitano .