Dario Franceschini (born 19 October 1958) is an Italian lawyer, writer, and politician, who served as the second leader of the Democratic Party.He was a prominent member of the Italian People's Party (PPI), of the Daisy and the first Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party. Following the resignation of Walter Veltroni on 21 February 2009 the Constituent Assembly of the Democratic Party elected him the new Secretary.