Venetian regional election, 2010 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Venetian regional election of 2010 took place on 28–29 March 2010, as part of 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...

's big round of regional elections

Italian regional elections, 2010

A big round of regional elections in Italy took place on 28–29 March in 13 regions out of 20, including nine of the ten largest ones: Lombardy, Campania, Veneto, Lazio, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Apulia, Tuscany and Calabria...

.

Luca Zaia

Luca Zaia

Luca Zaia is an Italian Venetist politician, member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord.Since March 2010 Zaia is President of Veneto...

, rising star of Liga Veneta

Liga Veneta

Liga Veneta is a regionalist political party based in Veneto, combining Venetism and fiscal federalism. Liga Veneta is by far the largest party in Veneto and the party of Luca Zaia, President of Veneto since March 2010.It was the first party of its kind in Northern Italy, predating Umberto...

–Lega Nord, was elected President by a landslide. With the support of 60.2% of Venetians, he was the most voted President of Veneto since direct election was introduced in 1995. Liga Veneta became the largest in the region with 35.2%. The total score of Venetist parties (also including North-East Union

North-East Union

The North-East Union is a Venetist political party active in Veneto.The party was formed in 1996 by splinters from Liga Veneta–Lega Nord led by Adriano Bertaso. In the 1996 general election the party won 2.0% of the vote in the region , having run only in the Verona–Padua–Vicenza–Rovigo constituency...

, Party of the Venetians

Party of the Venetians

The Party of the Venetians was a Venetist-separatist coalition of parties active in Veneto.The alliance, which was formed in January 2010, after the disbandment of Veneto Freedom, was composed of five groups, which continued to be active as factions of Veneto State, since when the PdV was merged...

, Venetian National Party

Venetian National Party

The Venetian National Party was a Venetist, libertarian and separatist political party active in Veneto, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia...

and Liga Veneto Autonomo

Liga Veneto Autonomo

Liga Veneto Autonomo is a Venetist political party active in Veneto.LFV was formed in early 2010 by senior members of Liga Veneta Repubblica , notably including Giorgio Vido and Bortolino Sartore, in the run up of the 2010 Venetian regional election...

) was 37.6%, the highest ever. The People of Freedom

The People of Freedom

The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....

of the outgoing President Giancarlo Galan

Giancarlo Galan

Giancarlo Galan is an Italian politician.After having been a Liberal activist in the Seventies and the Eighties, he was not active in politics until he joined Forza Italia since its foundation in 1994. In the same year he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies.In 1995 he ran successfully...

came second with 24.7% of the vote and 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....

third with 20.3%.

Liga Veneta managed the highest swing ever in a regional election in Veneto (+20.5%), gaining from almost every side of the political spectrum, but mainly from The People of Freedom (–7.5%), the Democrats (–8.6%) and North-East Union (–5.1%), whose main member parties were North-East Project

North-East Project

North-East Project is a Venetist, fiscal federalist and libertarian Italian political party based in Veneto, demanding larger autonomy, if not complete independence for the region.-History:...

(5.4% in 2005) and Liga Veneta Repubblica (1.2%).

Background

After having supported Giancarlo Galan

Giancarlo Galan

(The People of Freedom

The People of Freedom

The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....

, PdL) for ten years as President of Veneto, Liga Veneta

Liga Veneta

–Lega Nord (that received 28.4% of the vote in the 2009 European Parliament election

European Parliament election, 2009 (Veneto)

The European Parliament election of 2009 took place on 6–7 June 2009.The People of Freedom and Lega Nord were tied at the top in Veneto, while the Democratic Party was a distant third.-Results:Source:...

in Veneto

Veneto

Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...

compared to the 29.3% of the PdL), soon reclaimed the post of President for one of itself, with Luca Zaia

Luca Zaia

Luca Zaia is an Italian Venetist politician, member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord.Since March 2010 Zaia is President of Veneto...

(Minister of Agriculture in Berlusconi IV Cabinet

Berlusconi IV Cabinet

Berlusconi IV Cabinet has been the cabinet of the government of Italy from 8 May 2008 to 16 November 2011.As of July 2011, it was composed of 24 ministers, 4 deputy ministers and 39 under-secretaries, for a total of 67 members.-Sources:*...

) or Flavio Tosi

Flavio Tosi

Flavio Tosi is an Italian Venetist politician. He is member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord.-Career:Having joined Liga Veneta in 1991, he was elected to the Municipal Council of Verona in 1994 at the age of 25. From 1997 to 2003 he was also provincial secretary of Liga Veneta for the Province of Verona...

(Mayor of Verona

Verona

Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...

and most popular mayor of Italy) as likeliest choices.

Since the early days Zaia was the strongest candidate. According to an opinion poll, 72% of Venetian voters liked him and 67% considered him practised (48 and 42% were the scores of Galan, largely behind also of Tosi), a 49% would back him as President, while only 37% would back Galan. Moreover centre-right voters preferred Zaia to Galan by a 8-point margin (49.3% to 41.2%). Differently from the incumbent president, Zaia was popular among the young and non-autonomous workers, who generally back the left. Galan and the regional section of the PdL (whose leader is Silvio Berlusconi

Silvio Berlusconi

Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...

) disagreed and wanted a fourth term for Galan, who was first elected in 1995

Venetian regional election, 1995

The Venetian regional election of 1995 took place on 23 April 1995.For the first time the President of the Region was directly elected by the people, although the election was not yet binding and the President-elect could have been replaced during the term....

. At some point a three-way race in Veneto between Galan, Zaia and a candidate of the Democratic Party

Democratic Party (Italy)

(PD) seemed possible, but neither Berlusconi nor Umberto Bossi

Umberto Bossi

Umberto Bossi is an Italian politician, leader of the Northern League, a party seeking autonomy or independence for Northern Italy. He is married to Manuela Marrone and has four sons ....

, federal secretary of Lega Nord, liked the idea.

In December 2009 the national committee of The People of Freedom

The People of Freedom

The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....

(PdL) determined that it would have supported a leghista in Veneto. Subsequently the National Council (where "national" means "Venetian") of Liga Veneta nominated Zaia for President. Tosi, who as president of Liga Veneta presided the Council, tried until the last minute to be the candidate and some councillors opted for Franco Manzato

Franco Manzato

Franco Manzato is a Venetist politician. He is a member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord.After a degree in philosophy, Manzato begun to work as consultant for small and medium-size enterprises and joined Liga Veneta in 1984, seven years before the foundation of Lega Nord. In the 2000 regional election he...

instead. However, as a strong majority backed Zaia (including the party's secretary Gian Paolo Gobbo), Zaia was voted unanimously by the Council, including Tosi.

The Venetian PdL is afraid that Liga Veneta, headed by Zaia, will dominate regional politics for many years to come, similarly to what the South Tyrolean People's Party

South Tyrolean People's Party

The South Tyrolean People's Party is a regionalist Christian democratic political party active in the Italian province of South Tyrol.Founded in 1945, the SVP represents the German-speaking population of the province, as well as Ladin speakers. Since the first election of the Provincial Council in...

has done in South Tyrol

South Tyrol

South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...

. According to another opinion poll, in the forthcoming election, with Zaia candidate, the PdL would be reduced to a mere 23% with the League at 35% and Zaia would beat Galan also in a three-way race.

Galan, who has seldom hinted the idea of forming a Venetist party of his own, was rumored as independent candidate supported by the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC) and, less likely, by the opposition Democratic Party. However Galan ruled out the idea of running against his party and Zaia, opening the way for a bid by Antonio De Poli

Antonio De Poli

Antonio De Poli is an Italian politician and former Member of the European Parliament for North-East with the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats, part of the European People's Party...

, UDC regional leader.

The UDC refused to join forces with the centre-left, leaving the PD to choose between Laura Puppato

Laura Puppato

Laura Puppato is an Italian politician from Veneto.Puppato became engaged in politics in the 1990s within local environmentalist groups and was elected mayor of Montebelluna in 2002. She proved a very popular centre-left mayor in a Lega Nord's stronghold and was re-elected in 2007...

, Mayor of Montebelluna

Montebelluna

Montebelluna is a town and comune in Veneto, Italy, approximately 67 kilometers northwest of Venice. It has an estimated population of 30,817.Fila has research and development facilities in Montebelluna. Northwave was started by Gianni Piva in Montebelluna...

, who had expressed her interest for the race and Giuseppe Bortolussi

Giuseppe Bortolussi

Giuseppe Bortolussi is an Italian politician from Veneto.In 1980 Bortolussi became director of the Mestre section of Confartigianato, the largest Italian organization representing artisans and small entrepreneurs. He later became president of the section...

, respected leader of the Mestre

Mestre

Mestre is a city part of the comune of Venice, in Veneto, northern Italy.The city is connected to Venice by a large rail and road bridge, called Ponte della Libertà ....

section of Confartigianato. The PD eventually chose Bortolussi, who beat Puppato by 39 votes to 29 in the regional board of the party.

Candidates

Luca Zaia
Luca Zaia
Luca Zaia is an Italian Venetist politician, member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord.Since March 2010 Zaia is President of Veneto...

(Liga Veneta
Liga Veneta
Liga Veneta is a regionalist political party based in Veneto, combining Venetism and fiscal federalism. Liga Veneta is by far the largest party in Veneto and the party of Luca Zaia, President of Veneto since March 2010.It was the first party of its kind in Northern Italy, predating Umberto...

–Lega Nord), supported by Liga Veneta–Lega Nord, The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....

and Alliance of the Centre
Alliance of the Centre
Alliance of the Centre is a Christian-democratic political party in Italy.It was founded in November 2008 by splinters from the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats who wanted to return to an alliance with Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition and support his fourth government...

(comprising the Venetian People's Movement
Venetian People's Movement
The Venetian People's Movement is a Christian-democratic political party in Italy, based in Veneto. Its leader is Francesco Piccolo....

)
Giuseppe Bortolussi
Giuseppe Bortolussi
Giuseppe Bortolussi is an Italian politician from Veneto.In 1980 Bortolussi became director of the Mestre section of Confartigianato, the largest Italian organization representing artisans and small entrepreneurs. He later became president of the section...

(independent, close to 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....

), supported by the Democratic Party, Italy of Values
Italy of Values
Italy of Values is a centrist, populist and anti-corruption political party in Italy. The party, which is affiliated to the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party , is headed by former Mani pulite prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro, who entered politics in 1996.The party aims to gather and give...

, IDEA – List for Veneto
IDEA – List for Veneto
IDEA is a green and Christian leftist political party active in Veneto, Italy....

, Left Ecology Freedom–Italian Socialist Party and the Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....

–Party of Italian Communists
Party of Italian Communists
The Party of Italian Communists is a communist political party in Italy. Its long-time leader is Oliviero Diliberto.-Foundation and early years:...
Antonio De Poli
Antonio De Poli
Antonio De Poli is an Italian politician and former Member of the European Parliament for North-East with the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats, part of the European People's Party...

(Union of Christian and Centre Democrats/Union of the Centre), supported by the Union of the Centre (comprising also Veneto for the EPP
Veneto for the European People's Party
Veneto for the European People's Party is a regional christian-democratic party based in Veneto.-History:...

and Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy
Alliance for Italy is a centrist political party in Italy.The party, which is described in its manifesto as "democratic, liberal, popular" as opposed both to "right-wing populism" and the "social-democratic left, an experience with high and memorable value, yet by now run out", was launched on 11...

) and North-East Union
North-East Union
The North-East Union is a Venetist political party active in Veneto.The party was formed in 1996 by splinters from Liga Veneta–Lega Nord led by Adriano Bertaso. In the 1996 general election the party won 2.0% of the vote in the region , having run only in the Verona–Padua–Vicenza–Rovigo constituency...

(comprising North-East Project
North-East Project
North-East Project is a Venetist, fiscal federalist and libertarian Italian political party based in Veneto, demanding larger autonomy, if not complete independence for the region.-History:...

, Liga Veneta Repubblica and Venetian Agreement
Venetian Agreement
Venetian Agreement is a centrist social-democratic Italian political party active in Veneto.It emerged in 2006 as a regional split from the Italian Democratic Socialists and it is led by Carlo Covi, regional deputy, and Monica Balbinot, minister of Culture of Padova...

)
Silvano Polo (Party of the Venetians
Party of the Venetians
The Party of the Venetians was a Venetist-separatist coalition of parties active in Veneto.The alliance, which was formed in January 2010, after the disbandment of Veneto Freedom, was composed of five groups, which continued to be active as factions of Veneto State, since when the PdV was merged...

), supported by the Party of the Venetians
Gianluca Panto (Venetian National Party
Venetian National Party
The Venetian National Party was a Venetist, libertarian and separatist political party active in Veneto, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia...

), supported by the Venetian National Party
David Borrelli (Five Star Movement), supported by the Five Star Movement

Results

Liga Veneta

–Lega Nord
| align=right|788,581
| align=right|35.2
| align=right|+20.5
| align=right|18
| align=right|20
| rowspan="3" align="right" valign="top"|37
|-
|align="left"| The People of Freedom

The People of Freedom

The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....

| align=right|555,006
| align=right|24.7
| align=right|-7.5
| align=right|13
| align=right|17
|-
|align="left"| Alliance of the Centre

Alliance of the Centre

Alliance of the Centre is a Christian-democratic political party in Italy.It was founded in November 2008 by splinters from the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats who wanted to return to an alliance with Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition and support his fourth government...

Democratic Party (Italy)

| align=right|456,309
| align=right|20.3
| align=right|-8.6
| align=right|14
| align=right|15
| rowspan="6" align="right" valign="top"|19
|-
|align="left"| Italy of Values

Italy of Values

Italy of Values is a centrist, populist and anti-corruption political party in Italy. The party, which is affiliated to the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party , is headed by former Mani pulite prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro, who entered politics in 1996.The party aims to gather and give...

| align=right|119,396
| align=right|5.3
| align=right|+4.0
| align=right|3
| align=right|3
|-
|align="left"| Federation of the Left

Federation of the Left

Federation of the Left is a communist coalition of political parties in Italy.The coalition is the evolution of the Anticapitalist List and includes:*Communist Refoundation Party...

| align=right|35,028
| align=right|1.6
| align=right|-3.4
| align=right|1
| align=right|1
|-
|align="left"| Left Ecology Freedom–Italian Socialist Party
| align=right|27,578
| align=right|1.2
| align=right|new
| align=right|-
| align=right|-
|-
|align="left"| IDEA – List for Veneto

IDEA – List for Veneto

IDEA is a green and Christian leftist political party active in Veneto, Italy....

(incl. Greens

Federation of the Greens

The Federation of the Greens is a green political party in Italy, which includes also a large eco-socialist faction. Since 2009 the party leader is Angelo Bonelli.-Early years:...

)
| align=right|15,907
| align=right|0.7
| align=right|-2.3
| align=right|-
| align=right|-
|-
|align="left"| Liga Veneto Autonomo

Liga Veneto Autonomo

| align=right|4,390
| align=right|0.2
| align=right|new
| align=right|-
| align=right|-

|-
!rowspan="2" align="left" valign="top"|Antonio De Poli
Antonio De Poli
Antonio De Poli is an Italian politician and former Member of the European Parliament for North-East with the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats, part of the European People's Party...

|rowspan="2" valign="top"|162,235
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|6.4
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|-

|align="left"| Union of the Centre
| align=right|110,417
| align=right|4.9
| align=right|-1.5
| align=right|3
| align=right|3
| rowspan="2" align="right" valign="top"|4
|-
|align="left"| North-East Union

North-East Union

| align=right|34,697
| align=right|1.5
| align=right|-5.1
| align=right|1
| align=right|1

|-
!rowspan="1" align="left" valign="top"|David Borrelli
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|80,246
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|3.2
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|-

|align="left"| Five Star Movement
| align=right|57,848
| align=right|2.6
| align=right|new
| align=right|-
| align=right|-
| rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|-

|-
!rowspan="1" align="left" valign="top"|Silvano Polo
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|12,891
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|0.5
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|-

|align="left"| Party of the Venetians

Party of the Venetians

| align=right|7,879
| align=right|0.4
| align=right|new
| align=right|-
| align=right|-
| rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|-

|-
!rowspan="1" align="left" valign="top"|Paolo Caratossidis
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|9,151
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|0.4
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|-

|align="left"| New Force
| align=right|6,476
| align=right|0.3
| align=right|-0.6
| align=right|-
| align=right|-
| rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|-

|-
!rowspan="1" align="left" valign="top"|Gianluca Panto
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|9,066
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|0.4
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|-

|align="left"| Venetian National Party

Venetian National Party

The Venetian National Party was a Venetist, libertarian and separatist political party active in Veneto, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia...

| align=right|6,226
| align=right|0.3
| align=right|new
| align=right|-
| align=right|-
| rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|-

|-
|- bgcolor="#E9E9E9"
!rowspan="1" align="left" valign="top"|Total candidates
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|2,540,736
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|100.0
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|7
!rowspan="1" align="left" valign="top"|Total parties
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|2,243,042
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|100.0
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|=
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|47
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|60
!rowspan="1" align="right" valign="top"|60
|}
Source: Regional Council of Veneto

Aftermath

After the election, Luca Zaia

Luca Zaia

Luca Zaia is an Italian Venetist politician, member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord.Since March 2010 Zaia is President of Veneto...

formed his first government

Zaia I Government

The Zaia I Government has been the government of Veneto since 19 April 2010....

, composed by six ministers form Liga Veneta, that maintained the strategic Health portfolio (for Luca Coletto

Luca Coletto

Luca Coletto is an Italian Venetist politician.A member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord and close ally of Flavio Tosi, Coletto is regional minister of Health of Veneto in Zaia I Government .-References:...

) and gained, above all, Budget and Finances (for Roberto Ciambetti

Roberto Ciambetti

Roberto Ciambetti is an Italian Venetist politician.A member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord, he was secretary of the party from 2003 to 2007 for the Province of Vicenza. Having elected to the Regional Council of Veneto in 2005, he became floor leader of the party in 2008...

), and six from the PdL. Marino Zorzato

Marino Zorzato

Marino Zorzato is an Italian politician from Veneto.A long-time Christian Democrat, he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies for Forza Italia in 2001, 2006 and 2006...

(PdL) was sworn as Vice President, while Renato Chisso

Renato Chisso

Renato Chisso is an Italian politician from Veneto.A long-time member of the Italian Socialist Party, he joined Forza Italia in 1994. Elected to the Regional Council of Veneto in 1995 and re-elected in 2000, 2005 and 2010, he was regional minister of Environment and Transports in Galan II...

(PdL) was confirmed for a third consecutive term as Minister of Infrastructures and Transports.

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