Politics of Apulia

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The politics of Apulia, Italy take place in the framework of a semi-presidential representative democracy, whereby the President of the Region is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in the Regional Council of Apulia, while executive power is exercised by the Regional Government led by the President, who is directly elected by the people. The current Statute, which regulates the functioning of the regional institutions, has been in force since 2004.

Contents

Prior to the rise of Fascism, most of the deputies elected in Apulia were part of the liberal establishment (see Historical Right, Historical Left and Liberals), which governed Italy for decades. At the 1924 general election, which opened the way to the Fascist authoritarian rule, Apulia was one of the regions where the National Fascist Party (PNF) obtained more than 50% of the vote. [1]

After World War II, Apulia became a stronghold of the Christian Democracy (DC), which was especially strong in rural areas. The region is now considered a stronghold of the "centre-left coalition" led by the Democratic Party (PD), having been governed by such alliance since 2005.

Between 2005 and 2015 the region was headed by Nichi Vendola, the first openly LGBT heads of a regional government in Italy.

Legislative branch

The Regional Council of Apulia (Consiglio Regionale della Puglia) is composed of 51 members, 50 councillors and the President. 23 councillors are elected in provincial constituencies by proportional representation using the largest remainder method with a Droop quota and open lists, while 27 councillors (elected in a general ticket) come from a "regional list", including the President-elect. One seat is reserved for the candidate who comes second.

The Council is elected for a five-year term, but, if the President suffers a vote of no confidence, resigns or dies, under the simul stabunt, simul cadent clause introduced in 1999 (literally they will stand together or they will fall together), also the Council is dissolved and a snap election is called. [2]

2020–2025 composition

Palazzo della Regione in Bari is the seat of the Regional Council. Bari palazzo della Regione.jpg
Palazzo della Regione in Bari is the seat of the Regional Council.
PartySeatsStatus
Democratic Party
15 / 51
In government
Brothers of Italy
6 / 51
In opposition
With Emiliano
5 / 51
In government
Five Star Movement
5 / 51
In government
Forza Italia
4 / 51
In opposition
League
4 / 51
In opposition
For Apulia
3 / 51
In government
Action
3 / 51
In opposition
Populars with Emiliano
2 / 51
In government
Apulia Tomorrow
2 / 51
In opposition
Mixed group [3]
2 / 51

Executive branch

The Regional Government (Giunta Regionale) is presided by the President of the Region (Presidente della Regione), who is elected for a five-year term, and is currently composed by 10 members: the President and 9 regional ministers or assessors (Assessori), including a Vice President (Vice Presidente). [4]

Current composition

The current Regional Government was sworn in on 24 November 2020.

PartyMembers
Democratic Party PD President
and 3 ministers
With EmilianoCE2 ministers
Populars with EmilianoPcE1 minister
Italian Left SI1 minister
Five Star Movement M5S1 minister
IndependentInd1 minister
MinisterPartyDelegate for
Raffaele Piemontese
(vice president)
PDFinance and budget, infrastructures
Debora CilientoPDTransports and sustainable mobility
Donato PentassugliaPDAgriculture, food processing, hunt and fishing, woods
Alessandro Delli NociCEEconomic development
Gianfranco LopaneCETourism
Rocco PaleseIndHealthcare
Anna Grazia MaraschinoSIEnvironment, circular economy, housing
Sebastiano LeoPcEEducation and labour, universities
Rosa BaroneM5SWelfare and social policies

List of presidents

The current President of Apulia is Michele Emiliano, who is serving his second term after winning the 2020 regional election.

Presidents elected by the Regional Council (1970–1995)

N.NameTerm of officePolitical partyLegislature
1Gennaro Trisorio Liuzzi8 June 197016 June 1975 DC I (1970)
2Nicola Rotolo16 June 197523 December 1978 DC II (1975)
3Nicola Quarta23 December 19789 June 1980 DC
9 June 19804 July 1983III (1980)
4Angelo Monfredi4 July 198323 September 1983 DC
(1)Gennaro Trisorio Liuzzi23 September 198313 May 1985 DC
5Salvatore Fitto13 May 198529 August 1988 [5] DC IV (1985)
6Franco Borgia29 August 198823 November 1988 PSI
7Giuseppe Colasanto23 November 19886 May 1990 DC
8Michele Bellomo6 May 199023 October 1992 DC V (1990)
9Cosimo Convertino23 October 19924 December 1992 PSI
10Giovanni Copertino4 December 19923 September 1993 DC
11Vito Savino3 September 19931 March 1994 DC
12 Giuseppe Martellotta 1 March 199427 June 1995 PPI

Directly-elected presidents (since 1995)

N.PortraitPresidentTerm of officeTenure
(Years and days)
PartyCompositionLegislature
13 Coat of Arms of Apulia.svg Salvatore Distaso
(1937–2008)
27 June
1995
19 May
2000
4 years, 327 days FI FIANCDC VI
(1995)
14 Raffaele Fitto 2006.jpg Raffaele Fitto
(b. 1969)
19 May
2000
27 April
2005
4 years, 343 days FI FIANCDCCDU VII
(2000)
15 Nicola Vendola daticamera.jpg Nichi Vendola
(b. 1958)
27 April
2005
26 April
2010
10 years, 60 days PRC /
SEL
DSDLPRCSDI
UDEURPdCIIdVFdV
VIII
(2005)
26 April
2010
26 June
2015
PDSELIdV IX
(2010)
16 Michele Emiliano crop.jpg Michele Emiliano
(b. 1959)
26 June
2015
24 November
2020
10 years, 94 days PD PDSELIdVSCUdC X
(2015)
24 November
2020
Incumbent PDCE–PcE–M5S [6] XI
(2020)

Local government

Provinces and Metropolitan City

Provinces of Apulia Map of region of Apulia, Italy, with provinces-it.svg
Provinces of Apulia

Apulia is divided into five provinces and one metropolitan city.

After the 2014 reform of local authorities the Province of Bari was replaced by the new Metropolitan City of Bari. Since 2014 the president of the province is no more elected directly by citizens, but is chosen by mayors and councilors of the municipalities of the province.

Province / Metropolitan CityInhabitantsPresidentPartyElection
Metropolitan City of Bari 1,261,954 Antonio Decaro
(metropolitan mayor)
Democratic Party 2019
Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani 384,293 Bernardo Lodispoto Independent (Democratic Party)2023
Province of Brindisi 401,652 Toni Matarelli Independent (Democratic Party)2022
Province of Foggia 627,102 Giuseppe Nobiletti Independent (Democratic Party)2023
Province of Lecce 802,807 Stefano Minerva Democratic Party 2022
Province of Taranto 581,092 Rinaldo Melucci Democratic Party 2022

Municipalities

Apulia is also divided into 258 comuni (municipalities), which have even more history, having been established in the Middle Ages when they were the main places of government. There are eight provincial capital cities in Apulia, as the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani is the only province in Italy with three capital cities.

There are 258 communes in Apulia (as of January 2019):

Provincial capitals

MunicipalityInhabitantsMayorPartyElection
Andria 100,357 Giovanna Bruno Democratic Party 2020
Bari 311,997 Antonio Decaro Democratic Party 2019
Barletta 94,664 Cosimo Cannito Independent 2022
Brindisi 88,482 Giuseppe Marchionna Independent 2023
Foggia 152,700 Maria Aida Episcopo Independent 2023
Lecce 89,902 Carlo Salvemini Independent 2019
Taranto 198,083 Rinaldo Melucci Democratic Party 2022
Trani 55,808 Amedeo Bottaro Democratic Party 2020

Other municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants

MunicipalityInhabitantsMayorPartyElection
Altamura 70,789Vitantonio Petronella Independent 2023
Molfetta 60,272Tommaso Minervini Democratic Party 2022
Cerignola 57,007Francesco Bonito Democratic Party 2021
Manfredonia 56,318Giovanni Rotice Forza Italia 2021
Bitonto 56,304Francesco Paolo Ricci Democratic Party 2022
San Severo 55,297Francesco Miglio Democratic Party 2019
Bisceglie 54,847Angelantonio Angarano Independent 2023

Parties and elections

Latest regional election

In the latest regional election, which took place on 20–21 September 2020, Michele Emiliano of the Democratic Party was re-elected President with 46.8% of the vote.

20–21 September 2020 Apulian regional election results
Apulia Regional Council 2020.svg
CandidatesVotes%SeatsPartiesVotes%Seats
Michele Emiliano 871,02846.781 Democratic Party 289,18817.2516
With Emiliano110,5596.596
Populars with Emiliano99,6215.945
Civic Sense – A New Olive Tree for Apulia69,7804.16
Italia in Comune 64,8863.87
Solidary and Green Apulia63,7253.80
Emiliano Mayor of Apulia43,4042.59
Animalist Party 5,5730.33
Alternative Left4,1920.25
Pensioners and Disabled3,1190.19
Party of the South 1,4100.08
Thought and Action Party1,2430.07
Independent South1,1790.07
Christian Democracy 1,0470.06
Open Society Association – The Liberals8060.05
Total759,73245.3227
Raffaele Fitto 724,92838.931 Brothers of Italy 211,69312.636
League 160,5079.574
Forza Italia 149,3998.914
Apulia Tomorrow141,2018.423
Union of the CentreNew PSI 31,7361.89
Total694,53641.4317
Antonella Laricchia207,03811.12 Five Star Movement 165,2439.865
Future Apulia9,8970.59
Total175,14010.455
Ivan Scalfarotto29,8081.60 Italia Viva 18,0251.08
Scalfarotto for President5,0620.30
Green Future1,8880.11
Total24,9751.49
Mario Conca16,5310.89Apulian Citizens12,1620.73
Nicola Cesaria7,2220.39Work Environment Constitution5,8800.35
Pierfranco Bruni3,1150.17 Tricolour Flame 2,3620.14
Andrea D'Agosto2,3530.13Reconquer Italy1,7120.10
Blank and invalid votes149,6587.44
Total candidates1,862,023100.002Total parties1,676,499100.0049
Registered voters/turnout3,565,01356.43
Source: Ministry of the Interior – Results Archived 2020-09-23 at the Wayback Machine

References

  1. Piergiorgio Corbetta; Maria Serena Piretti, Atlante storico-elettorale d'Italia, Zanichelli, Bologna 2009
  2. La Repubblica – Regional electoral law
  3. In support of the government: Antonio Tutolo (Independent). In the opposition: Stellato Massimiliano (Italia Viva).
  4. "QUIregione". www.regione.puglia.it. Archived from the original on 12 July 2007.
  5. Died in office.
  6. Since 2021.