text: Paolo , the leader of the Plebian party , persuades Pietro to support the nomination of Simon Boccanegra for doge of Genoa .
simplified: When the opera begins , Paolo , the leader of the Plebeian party , persuades Pietro to encourage the plebeians to vote for Simon Boccanegra as the new doge of Genoa . Boccanegra arrives and agrees that he would be doge if he were chosen .