FACTBOX-Italy's Mr Nice Guy, Walter Veltroni
ReutersApril 13 (Reuters) - Italians voted on Sunday in aparliamentary election pitting centre-left leader and formerRome mayor Walter Veltroni against one of Italy's richest men,the conservative Silvio Berlusconi.
Here are some facts about Veltroni.
* Veltroni, born in Rome in July 1955, is a former editor ofleft-wing daily L'Unita and started his political career in thenow defunct Italian Communist Party. In contrast to Berlusconi'sflamboyant style, he projects a more intellectual image.
* Often accused of 'buonismo' -- Italian for being too muchof a Mr Nice Guy -- the twice-elected Rome mayor has sought toharden his image by cracking down on illegal settlements ofRomanian immigrants in the city at a time when fear of crime,and foreigners, has become a major issue for many Italians.
* He was deputy prime minister in Romano Prodi's firstcabinet from 1996 until 1998, and held the arts and sportsportfolio. As mayor, he has been away from national politics fora decade and, unlike Berlusconi who is contesting his fifthelection, has never run for the top job.
* Last October, Veltroni was elected to lead the DemocraticParty, which was formed via a merger between ex-communists andcentrists.
* The part-time novelist and movie buff also created theRome film festival. He resigned as mayor of Rome in February tolead the centre left in the election.
* The endorsement of Hollywood actor George Clooney, Italianfootballer Francesco Totti and actor and Italian film directorRoberto Benigni have added some glamour to Veltroni's campaign.
(Writing by Robin Pomeroy and David Cutler, London EditorialReference Unit)