Ten years ago, on January 31, 2015, Sergio Mattarella was first elected President of the Italian Republic. Seven years later, he would be re-elected with even greater support and a higher profile. The role of the President of the Republic requires someone who unites, not divides, someone who keeps the delicate balances of democracy intact rather than breaking them.

This task is clearly outlined in the Constitution, which assigns the President the role of representing national unity. A difficult job in any era, and even more so today, when politics can feel like one of those family gatherings where there's always someone who argues.