[1][2] Due to his policies on immigration and security, Minniti has been often criticized by left-wing intellectuals and writers, like Roberto Saviano,[3] and labeled as a strongman.

[4][5][6] He has been sometimes nicknamed "The Lord of the Spies",[7] due to his long-time experience in coordinating the secret services in almost all the centre-left coalition's governments.

[14] Minniti mature in Calabria most of his political education; during 1970s he became a member of the Italian Communist Party led by Enrico Berlinguer.

From 2007 to 2013, Minniti was a member of the National Direction of the PD, under the leaderships of Walter Veltroni, Dario Franceschini and Pier Luigi Bersani.

On 17 May 2013, he was appointed Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office in Letta Cabinet with responsibility for intelligence services, presiding the Delegated Authority for the Security of the Republic.

[27] On 9 January 2017, Minniti traveled to Libya to begin the negotiations with President Fayez al-Sarraj to sign a new agreement on repatriation of irregular immigrants.

[29] However, Minniti was often accused by his critics of being responsible for severe human rights violations of refugees trapped in Libyan detention centers.

Facing growing public discontent and scrutiny by the Italian, Libyan, and EU authorities, MSF had to suspend its activities in the Mediterranean sea.

[37] Minniti was supported by Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister and party's leader, who led a liberal and centrist faction within the PD.

[39] However, on 5 December, 17 days after having announced his candidacy, Minniti withdrew from the race, saying to do so in order to facilitate the path of the party primaries and with the sole intent to encourage the election of an authoritative secretary.