Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election, 2009
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Democratic Party leadership election was held in July–November 2009 following the resignation of Walter Veltroni
in February 2009, after 16 months as secretary of the Democratic Party
(PD), the second-largest political party in Italy
.
Pier Luigi Bersani
, a former minister in several centre-left governments hailing from the Italian Communist Party
(then Democratic Party of the Left
and Democrats of the Left
), was elected secretary in a open primary
on 25 October. Three million Democratic supporters turned out to vote and it was a real fight between three candidates, with Bersani winning with only 53% of the votes cast.
Bersani was declared new secretary of the party during the first meeting of the party's new national assembly elected on 7 October 2009. On that occasion Rosy Bindi
was elected president of the party (with Marina Sereni and Ivan Scalfarotto vice-presidents), while Enrico Letta
and Antonio Misiani were nominated deputy-secretary and treasurer, respectively.
and Deputy Prime Minister in Prodi I Cabinet
, was elected in an open primary election
in 2007 by a landslide, but left the post of leader after a series of electoral defeats one and a half years before the natural conclusion of his term. He was replaced by his deputy, Dario Franceschini
, a former left-wing Christian Democrat
hailing from Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy.
Candidates were required to present their candidacies by 31 July 2009. From that point til the end of September party members voted in local conventions, choosing between the candidates and electing the delegates for the national convention. Under party rules the candidates who receive the support of at least the 15% of voting party members in local conventions or in any case the three most voted candidates, provided that they had received at least 5% of the vote, qualify for the second round of the race and have the chance to present their platform at the national convention.
After the national convention, that was scheduled on 11 October, the selected candidates stood in an open primary election, held on 25 October, with all Italian citizens aged at least 16 and non-Italian legal residents being eligible to vote. Voters elected also the national assembly of the party and the regional secretaries and assemblies. If no candidate was to get more than 50% of the vote, a run-off between the two most voted candidates would have taken place in the national assembly, scheduled within two weeks from the primary election.
The candidacy of Marino might have prompted an alternative bid of Paola Binetti
, leader of the socially conservative Theo-Dems, but she finally chose to support Franceschini, along with Rutelli, as also Ermete Realacci, leader of the Democratic Ecologists
did.
Mario Adinolfi, a former Christian Democrat, journalist and blog
ger who ran also in 2007 (gaining a mere 0.2%), announced his candidacy on 30 June, proposing "direct democracy" and a "radical renewal", but finally withdrew in favour of Franceschini.
Renato Nicolini, architect, university professor and former culture councillor of Rome
under three Communist
mayors (1976–1985), announced his bid on 21 July, but he later withdrew from the race after failing to collect the required signatures in support of his bid.
Beppe Grillo
, popular comedian and blogger, announced his bid on 12 July, but its candidacy was rejected by the party's electoral commission.
Another poll by IPR Marketing, published on 11 August, put Bersani largely ahead with 54%, Franceschini distant second with 35% and Marino third with 11%. According to this poll a 56% of Democratic voters (that is to say 19% of the whole electorate) are likely or sure to go to the polls.
A poll published by Crespi Ricerche on 10 September put Bersani and Franceschini neck and neck, respectively at 43.7% and 39.6%, with Marino distant third with 9.2% and 7.5% of voters who declared themselves as undecided.
Source: Democratic Party Electoral Commission
The following results refer to the 100% of ballots counted:
Sources: Democratic Party Electoral Commission, La Repubblica and La Stampa
Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni, Knight Grand Cross, is an Italian writer, journalist and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009. He served as Mayor of Rome from 2001 to 2008.-Biography:Walter Veltroni was...
in February 2009, after 16 months as secretary of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Italy)
The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election....
(PD), the second-largest political party in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Pier Luigi Bersani
Pier Luigi Bersani
Pier Luigi Bersani is an Italian politician and the current Secretary of the Democratic Party of Italy, the main center-left political party in Italy . He was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 to 1999, Minister of Transports from 1999 to 2001, and Minister of Economic...
, a former minister in several centre-left governments hailing from the Italian Communist Party
Italian Communist Party
The Italian Communist Party was a communist political party in Italy.The PCI was founded as Communist Party of Italy on 21 January 1921 in Livorno, by seceding from the Italian Socialist Party . Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the split. Outlawed during the Fascist regime, the party played...
(then Democratic Party of the Left
Democratic Party of the Left
The Democratic Party of the Left was a post-communist, democratic socialist political party in Italy.-History:...
and Democrats of the Left
Democrats of the Left
The Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
), was elected secretary in a open primary
Open primary
An open primary is a primary election that does not require voters to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote for partisan candidates. In a traditional open primary, voters may select one party's ballot and vote for that party's nomination. As in a closed primary, the highest voted...
on 25 October. Three million Democratic supporters turned out to vote and it was a real fight between three candidates, with Bersani winning with only 53% of the votes cast.
Bersani was declared new secretary of the party during the first meeting of the party's new national assembly elected on 7 October 2009. On that occasion Rosy Bindi
Rosy Bindi
Maria Rosaria Bindi, best known as Rosy Bindi is an Italian politician and the current President of the Democratic Party.-Career:...
was elected president of the party (with Marina Sereni and Ivan Scalfarotto vice-presidents), while Enrico Letta
Enrico Letta
Enrico Letta is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election for the Olive Tree coalition...
and Antonio Misiani were nominated deputy-secretary and treasurer, respectively.
Background and rules
Veltroni, a former leader of the Democrats of the LeftDemocrats of the Left
The Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
and Deputy Prime Minister in Prodi I Cabinet
Prodi I Cabinet
The Prodi I Cabinet was the cabinet of the government of Italy from 18 May 1996 to 21 October 1998.-Sources:*...
, was elected in an open primary election
Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election, 2007
The 2007 Democratic Party leadership election was held on 14 October 2007 in order to elect the first leader of the Democratic Party, the largest political party in Italy at the time. The election was conducted as an open primary, with all Italian citizens aged at least 16 and non-Italian legal...
in 2007 by a landslide, but left the post of leader after a series of electoral defeats one and a half years before the natural conclusion of his term. He was replaced by his deputy, Dario Franceschini
Dario Franceschini
Dario Franceschini is an Italian lawyer, writer, and politician, who served as the second leader of the Democratic Party. He has been a prominent member of the Italian People's Party , of the Daisy and the first Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party...
, a former left-wing Christian Democrat
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
hailing from Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy.
Candidates were required to present their candidacies by 31 July 2009. From that point til the end of September party members voted in local conventions, choosing between the candidates and electing the delegates for the national convention. Under party rules the candidates who receive the support of at least the 15% of voting party members in local conventions or in any case the three most voted candidates, provided that they had received at least 5% of the vote, qualify for the second round of the race and have the chance to present their platform at the national convention.
After the national convention, that was scheduled on 11 October, the selected candidates stood in an open primary election, held on 25 October, with all Italian citizens aged at least 16 and non-Italian legal residents being eligible to vote. Voters elected also the national assembly of the party and the regional secretaries and assemblies. If no candidate was to get more than 50% of the vote, a run-off between the two most voted candidates would have taken place in the national assembly, scheduled within two weeks from the primary election.
Candidates
Three candidates are contending for the position of party secretary:- Dario FranceschiniDario FranceschiniDario Franceschini is an Italian lawyer, writer, and politician, who served as the second leader of the Democratic Party. He has been a prominent member of the Italian People's Party , of the Daisy and the first Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party...
(campaign website). Franceschini, a former left-wing Christian DemocratChristian Democracy (Italy)Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
and outgoing secretary, who announced his candidacy on on 24 June, presented himself as the heir of Veltroni's political line, that basically meant vocazione maggioritaria and extensive use of primaries. He was thus supported by most VeltronianiVeltronianiVeltroniani refers to the faction around Walter Veltroni, leader of the Democratic Party, a political party in Italy, from 2007 to 2009. Most of them are social democrats coming from the Democrats of the Left....
, the bulk of The PopularsThe PopularsThe Populars is a loose association within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy.The Populars are the heirs of the Italian People's Party, a christian-democratic party of the Christian left, and of the left-wing of the late Christian Democracy...
, Francesco Rutelli's Free DemocratsFree Democrats (Italy)The Free Democrats were the centrist faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy, around Francesco Rutelli, former leader of Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy, one of the two main parties that merged to form the PD in 2007.The faction was launched by Rutelli in June 2009 during...
and their sister-factions (Democratic EcologistsDemocratic EcologistsThe Democratic Ecologists are a green faction within the Italian Democratic Party .Its leaders are Ermete Realacci and Fabrizio Vigni and its composed by both former members of the Democrats of the Left and Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy The Democratic Ecologists (Ecologisti Democratici,...
, Liberal PDLiberal PDThe Liberal PD is a social-liberal faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy.It was launched on 26 January 2008 by Senator Enzo Bianco , former Minister Franco Bassanini , Senator Valerio Zanone and Senator Enrico Morando The Liberal PD (Liberal PD) is a social-liberal...
and Theo-Dems), as well as some elements of the party's left-wing and also the Simply DemocratsSimply DemocratsSimply Democrats was a heterogeneous faction within the Democratic Party, a political party in Italy.At the 2009 leadership election the group supported the candidacy of Dario Franceschini, who eventually lost to Pier Luigi Bersani.Serracchiani and Filippo Civati...
list. Among party heavywights, other than Veltroni, Rutelli and Franco MariniFranco MariniFranco Marini is an Italian politician and a prominent member of the centre-left Democratic Party. From 2006 to 2008 he was President of the Italian Senate.-Biography:...
, Franceschini was supported by Piero FassinoPiero FassinoPietro Franco "Piero" Fassino is an Italian politician with the Democratic Party, the current Mayor of Turin and a former national secretary of the Democrats of the Left party.-Biography:...
, former leader of the Democrats of the LeftDemocrats of the LeftThe Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
, who coordinated his campaign.
- Pier Luigi BersaniPier Luigi BersaniPier Luigi Bersani is an Italian politician and the current Secretary of the Democratic Party of Italy, the main center-left political party in Italy . He was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 to 1999, Minister of Transports from 1999 to 2001, and Minister of Economic...
(campaign website). Several times minister, Bersani, who announced his bid on 1 July, represented essentially the more social-democratic wing of the party in the PCIItalian Communist PartyThe Italian Communist Party was a communist political party in Italy.The PCI was founded as Communist Party of Italy on 21 January 1921 in Livorno, by seceding from the Italian Socialist Party . Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the split. Outlawed during the Fascist regime, the party played...
/PDSDemocratic Party of the LeftThe Democratic Party of the Left was a post-communist, democratic socialist political party in Italy.-History:...
/DSDemocrats of the LeftThe Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
tradition, and he was indeed supported by DalemianiDalemianiDalemiani refers to the faction around Massimo D'Alema, a leading member of the Democratic Party, a political party in Italy.Dalemiani are generally social democrats who want the party to join the Party of European Socialists. D'Alema organized his faction as Reformists and Democrats, welcoming...
(Massimo D'AlemaMassimo D'AlemaMassimo D'Alema is an Italian politician. He is also a journalist and a former national secretary of the Democratic Party of the Left...
and his Reformists and DemocratsReformists and DemocratsReformists and Democrats is a predominantly social-democratic faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy....
group), To the LeftTo the LeftTo the Left is a social-democratic and democratic-socialist faction within the Democratic Party, a centre-left political party in Italy....
and Democracy and SocialismDemocracy and SocialismDemocracy and Socialism is a social-democratic political association in Italy. During the years it has been a faction within the Democrats of the Left, the Socialist Party and finally the Democratic Party, where it is now...
. However Bersani, who stood for a PD set in the tradition of The Olive Tree and was open to an alliance with other parties both on the party's left and right, obtained the support of Romano ProdiRomano ProdiRomano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
's UlivistsUlivistsThe Ulivists are a faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy.The group includes both Christian left politicians, social democrats and social liberals. They has been close supporters of Romano Prodi and want the party to be stuck in the tradition of The Olive Tree...
(although not that of Arturo ParisiArturo ParisiArturo Parisi is an Italian politician, leader of the Ulivist faction of the Democratic Party and four-time member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies...
who supported Franceschini instead), Rosy BindiRosy BindiMaria Rosaria Bindi, best known as Rosy Bindi is an Italian politician and the current President of the Democratic Party.-Career:...
's Democrats Really and the 360 Association360 Association360 Association is a centrist faction within the Democratic Party , a political party in Italy. It is led by Enrico Letta and that is why its members are often called Lettiani....
, whose leader Enrico LettaEnrico LettaEnrico Letta is an Italian politician, and was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 General election for the Olive Tree coalition...
was a keen centrist. Bersani, whose party would rely more on activists than primaries, was supported by many Northerners who wanted a strong party with a federal structure and a strong organization, in order to compete with Lega Nord. These included Filippo Penati, who served as coordinator of Bersani's campaign.
- Ignazio MarinoIgnazio MarinoIgnazio Marino is an Italian surgeon, specialising in liver transplantation, and politician in the Democratic Party. He is a member of the Italian Senate, being first elected in 2006.-Early life:...
(campaign website). Marino, well-known surgeon and senator, stepped into the leadership race on 4 July. He was supported by the very socially liberal wing of the party regarding ethical issues, disgruntled Dalemiani (as Marino himself is) and some Veltroniani led by Goffredo Bettini, a senator who was the closest aide to Veltroni during his leadership and who was not interested in supporting Franceschini.
The candidacy of Marino might have prompted an alternative bid of Paola Binetti
Paola Binetti
Paola Binetti is an Italian Deputy who belonged to the Democratic Party before 2010. Now she belongs the Union of the Centre.-Biography:Binetti was born in Rome...
, leader of the socially conservative Theo-Dems, but she finally chose to support Franceschini, along with Rutelli, as also Ermete Realacci, leader of the Democratic Ecologists
Democratic Ecologists
The Democratic Ecologists are a green faction within the Italian Democratic Party .Its leaders are Ermete Realacci and Fabrizio Vigni and its composed by both former members of the Democrats of the Left and Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy The Democratic Ecologists (Ecologisti Democratici,...
did.
Mario Adinolfi, a former Christian Democrat, journalist and blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger who ran also in 2007 (gaining a mere 0.2%), announced his candidacy on 30 June, proposing "direct democracy" and a "radical renewal", but finally withdrew in favour of Franceschini.
Renato Nicolini, architect, university professor and former culture councillor of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
under three Communist
Italian Communist Party
The Italian Communist Party was a communist political party in Italy.The PCI was founded as Communist Party of Italy on 21 January 1921 in Livorno, by seceding from the Italian Socialist Party . Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the split. Outlawed during the Fascist regime, the party played...
mayors (1976–1985), announced his bid on 21 July, but he later withdrew from the race after failing to collect the required signatures in support of his bid.
Beppe Grillo
Beppe Grillo
Giuseppe Piero Grillo, better known as Beppe Grillo , is an Italian activist, blogger, comedian, actor and politician, who also works in theatres and television.-Biography:Grillo was born in Genoa, Liguria....
, popular comedian and blogger, announced his bid on 12 July, but its candidacy was rejected by the party's electoral commission.
Opinion polls
According to an opinion poll taken on 13 July 2009 by Crespi Ricerche, a 33.4% of Democratic voters would have voted in the primary election. Under the same poll, Franceschini was backed by a 27.1% of respondents, Bersani by a 25.4%, Grillo by a 19.8% and Marino by a 15.2%; a 12.5% was undecided.Another poll by IPR Marketing, published on 11 August, put Bersani largely ahead with 54%, Franceschini distant second with 35% and Marino third with 11%. According to this poll a 56% of Democratic voters (that is to say 19% of the whole electorate) are likely or sure to go to the polls.
A poll published by Crespi Ricerche on 10 September put Bersani and Franceschini neck and neck, respectively at 43.7% and 39.6%, with Marino distant third with 9.2% and 7.5% of voters who declared themselves as undecided.
Vote by party members
On 8 October 2009 the party's electoral commission released the results of the vote among party members. In the local congresses a 56.4% of party members got out and vote. Bersani was by far the most voted candidate with 55.1% of the vote, largely ahead of Franceschini (37.0%) and Marino (7.9%).| Candidates | votes | votes (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Pier Luigi Bersani Pier Luigi Bersani Pier Luigi Bersani is an Italian politician and the current Secretary of the Democratic Party of Italy, the main center-left political party in Italy . He was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 to 1999, Minister of Transports from 1999 to 2001, and Minister of Economic... |
255,189 | 55.1 |
| Dario Franceschini Dario Franceschini Dario Franceschini is an Italian lawyer, writer, and politician, who served as the second leader of the Democratic Party. He has been a prominent member of the Italian People's Party , of the Daisy and the first Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party... |
171.041 | 37.0 |
| Ignazio Marino Ignazio Marino Ignazio Marino is an Italian surgeon, specialising in liver transplantation, and politician in the Democratic Party. He is a member of the Italian Senate, being first elected in 2006.-Early life:... |
36.674 | 7.9 |
| Total | 462,904 | 100.0 |
Primary election
On 25 October 2009 more than 3 million voters turned out to vote in an open primary. Bersani was elected new secretary of the party with 53.2% of the popular vote, Franceschini came second with 34.3% and Marino third with 12.5%.The following results refer to the 100% of ballots counted:
| Candidates | votes | votes (%) | delegates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier Luigi Bersani Pier Luigi Bersani Pier Luigi Bersani is an Italian politician and the current Secretary of the Democratic Party of Italy, the main center-left political party in Italy . He was Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship from 1996 to 1999, Minister of Transports from 1999 to 2001, and Minister of Economic... |
1,603,531 | 53.2 | 530 |
| Dario Franceschini Dario Franceschini Dario Franceschini is an Italian lawyer, writer, and politician, who served as the second leader of the Democratic Party. He has been a prominent member of the Italian People's Party , of the Daisy and the first Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party... |
1,035,026 | 34.3 | 339 |
| Ignazio Marino Ignazio Marino Ignazio Marino is an Italian surgeon, specialising in liver transplantation, and politician in the Democratic Party. He is a member of the Italian Senate, being first elected in 2006.-Early life:... |
378,211 | 12.5 | 131 |
| Total | 3,016,768 | 100.0 | 1,000 |