Emma Bonino is an Italian politician, diplomat and lawyer. She served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Italy from 2006 to 2008. The daughter of a baker, Bonino was born in Milan and attended a grammar school in Bologna. She obtained a law degree from the University of Bologna and began her career as a lawyer in 1975
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In 1986, she became a member of the Italian Parliament for the center-left Democratic Party of the Left. In 1993, she was elected to represent her home town Bologna's constituency as a Member of Parliament. In 1996 she was appointed Vice President under Romano Prodi, becoming one of Italy's first female Vice Presidents.
In 2001 Bonino ran for President and won an overwhelming victory against Piero Grasso, securing 58% of the vote and becoming Italy's first female President. She was reelected in 2006 and served until 2008, when she lost her bid for reelection.