Premier Matteo Renzi has made
the cover of the Italian version of iconic magazine Rolling
Stone, describing himself as the "quintessential anti-rockstar"
in an interview inside the November issue.
The cover picture was taken by world famous Italian
photographer Giovanni Gastel.
"Matteo Renzi turned communication strategies and
overdone storytelling into his first political tool (The
Washington Post recently labeled him a "master of social
media"). We wanted him to pose under Giovanni Gastel's elegant
lens for the cover story of Rolling Stone's November issue,"
said Rolling Stone Italia Editor-in-Chief Giovanni Robertini.
"We tried to capture or sketch Renzi's image beyond
Twitter and beyond the catchphrases of the electoral campaign.
"Pop - something Rolling Stone loves to sink its teeth
into - is less appetizing if the only ingredient is the message,
whether cheap or DOP quality".
In the magazine, which is on news stands on Friday, Renzi
said he watched House of Cards, but did not think it
particularly true to life.
"This may disappoint someone, but that's not the truth of
politics. And I have the outmost respect for the show," Renzi
said.
He also talked about Paolo Sorrentino's new series
featuring Jude Law, The Young Pope.
"Sorrentino is a genius. The pope with the Cherry Coke is
fantastic and his faith got me thinking a lot," he said.
He reiterated his esteem for United States President
Barack Obama too.
"Through 'Yes We Can' Obama proved that the American Dream
makes everything possible," he said.
When asked about Rolling Stone wondering whether
ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi was some kind of rock star in 2009,
Renzi replied: "Even if he was a star, I don't know how rock he
was".
"I consider myself to be very simple, the quintessential
anti-rockstar," he added.
"All the politicians who believe in their own legend are
the same politicians who can't accept they have to retire and
take a walk in the park.
"They're always there - they won't leave. Sometimes they
come back, as they can't cope with the idea of spending time in
a park with other retired people.
"This is also happening in this referendum campaign," he
said, referring to the December vote in his government's
Constitutional reform to overhaul Italy's political machinery.
"I believe politics is a limited assignment, while being a
rock star is forever.
"So I consider myself very far from the idea of a rock
star. I'm a simple man. I come from the suburbs. I'm a boy
scout".
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