THE 28 PEOPLE FROM 28 COUNTRIES WHO ARE SHAPING, SHAKING AND STIRRING EUROPE.

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9 MARIA ELENA BOSCHI ITALY Luke Waller

Maria Elena Boschi drew much media coverage back in 2014 when Matteo Renzi appointed her, at age 33, minister for constitutional reforms. That was a crucial post for an Italian prime minister who had put political reform at the center of his government’s action. Nearly two years later, with the passing of the institutional reform in 2015 that will reduce the power of the senate, Boschi has shown that youth is not incompatible with political success.

The reform is even named after her. The “Boschi bill” puts an end to a system where the two houses of Parliament had equal powers, which meant lengthy procedures and, often, legislative paralysis. From now on, Italy’s governments will no longer depend for their survival on a vote of confidence from the Senate, which will only number 100 senators, down from the current 325.

When the bill was finally approved in October, Renzi wrote on Facebook that Italy had “written another piece of its future.”

The change will have to be approved by a popular referendum in 2016, but there’s little chance it will be rejected. Coupled with an electoral reform already passed ensuring that the winning party will be able to count on a clear parliamentary majority, it should give Italian democracy more stability.

That would be no small feat for a country that has had 63 governments in 70 years.

Like many of Renzi’s acolytes, Boschi, a lawyer born in Tuscany, had to overcome many obstacles in her first parliamentary test. The far-right Northern League, for example, used an algorithm to submit no fewer than 80 million amendments to the Senate reform bill.

The reform minister will now embark on a European roadshow to present her reforms to Italy’s partners. A regular talk-show guest, she has avoided political gaffes and has even taken the liberty of differing from her mentor. For example, on civic rights — she is in favor of gay marriage, whereas he is more ambiguous. No wonder some already see her bound for even higher positions.

“She could even, one day, be the next prime minister,” says David Allegranti, Renzi’s biographer.

QUOTE/UNQUOTE

“I’m not Wonder Woman.”

“Once I used to spend until five in the morning clubbing, while now it happens to me only at the Senate.”

“If it is true that new is not necessarily a synonym of quality, the opposite is also true — not always people with more experience are the most able.”

“If we will not change Italy, I will go back [to work] as a lawyer.”

“I prefer to be judged upon my reform rather than my form.”

“Communists do not exist anymore!”

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