Politics of Apulia

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The politics of

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.

Prior to the rise of

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

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

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.
Party Seats Status
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.

Party Members
Democratic Party PD President
and 3 ministers
With Emiliano CE 2 ministers
Populars with Emiliano PcE 1 minister
Italian Left SI 1 minister
Five Star Movement M5S 1 minister
Independent Ind 1 minister
Minister Party Delegate for
Raffaele Piemontese
(vice president)
PD Finance and budget, infrastructures
Anna Maurodinoia PD Transports and sustainable mobility
Donato Pentassuglia PD Agriculture, food processing, hunt and fishing, woods
Alessandro Delli Noci CE Economic development
Gianfranco Lopane CE Tourism
Rocco Palese Ind Healthcare
Anna Grazia Maraschino SI Environment, circular economy, housing
Sebastiano Leo PcE Education and labour, universities
Rosa Barone M5S Welfare 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. Name Term of office Political party Legislature
1 Gennaro Trisorio Liuzzi 8 June 1970 16 June 1975 DC I (1970)
2 Nicola Rotolo 16 June 1975 23 December 1978 DC II (1975)
3 Nicola Quarta 23 December 1978 9 June 1980 DC
9 June 1980 4 July 1983 III (1980)
4 Angelo Monfredi 4 July 1983 23 September 1983 DC
(1) Gennaro Trisorio Liuzzi 23 September 1983 13 May 1985 DC
5 Salvatore Fitto 13 May 1985 29 August 1988[5] DC IV (1985)
6 Franco Borgia 29 August 1988 23 November 1988 PSI
7 Giuseppe Colasanto 23 November 1988 6 May 1990 DC
8 Michele Bellomo 6 May 1990 23 October 1992 DC V (1990)
9 Cosimo Convertino 23 October 1992 4 December 1992 PSI
10 Giovanni Copertino 4 December 1992 3 September 1993 DC
11 Vito Savino 3 September 1993 1 March 1994 DC
12 Giuseppe Martellotta 1 March 1994 27 June 1995 PPI
Directly-elected presidents (since 1995)
N. Portrait President Term of office Tenure
(Years and days)
Party Composition Legislature
13 Salvatore Distaso
(1937–2008)
27 June
1995
19 May
2000
4 years, 327 days FI FIANCDC VI
(1995)
14 Raffaele Fitto
(b. 1969)
19 May
2000
27 April
2005
4 years, 343 days FI FIANCDCCDU VII
(2000)
15 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
(b. 1959)
26 June
2015
24 November
2020
8 years, 296 days PD PDSELIdVSCUdC X
(2015)
24 November
2020
Incumbent PDCE–PcE–M5S[6] XI
(2020)


Local government

Provinces and Metropolitan City

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 City Inhabitants President Party Election
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):

  • 41 in the Metropolitan City of Bari
  • 10 in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani
  • 20 in the Province of Brindisi
  • 61 in the Province of Foggia
  • 97 in the Province of Lecce
  • 29 in the Province of Taranto

Provincial capitals

Municipality Inhabitants Mayor Party Election
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

Municipality Inhabitants Mayor Party Election
Altamura 70,789 Vitantonio Petronella Independent 2023
Molfetta 60,272 Tommaso Minervini Democratic Party 2022
Cerignola 57,007 Francesco Bonito Democratic Party 2021
Manfredonia 56,318 Giovanni Rotice Forza Italia 2021
Bitonto 56,304 Francesco Paolo Ricci Democratic Party 2022
San Severo 55,297 Francesco Miglio Democratic Party 2019
Bisceglie 54,847 Angelantonio 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
Candidates Votes % Seats Parties Votes % Seats
Michele Emiliano 871,028 46.78 1 Democratic Party 289,188 17.25 16
With Emiliano 110,559 6.59 6
Populars with Emiliano 99,621 5.94 5
Civic Sense – A New Olive Tree for Apulia 69,780 4.16
Italia in Comune 64,886 3.87
Solidary and Green Apulia 63,725 3.80
Emiliano Mayor of Apulia 43,404 2.59
Animalist Party 5,573 0.33
Alternative Left 4,192 0.25
Pensioners and Disabled 3,119 0.19
Party of the South 1,410 0.08
Thought and Action Party 1,243 0.07
Independent South 1,179 0.07
Christian Democracy 1,047 0.06
Open Society Association – The Liberals 806 0.05
Total 759,732 45.32 27
Raffaele Fitto 724,928 38.93 1 Brothers of Italy 211,693 12.63 6
League
160,507 9.57 4
Forza Italia 149,399 8.91 4
Apulia Tomorrow 141,201 8.42 3
Union of the CentreNew PSI 31,736 1.89
Total 694,536 41.43 17
Antonella Laricchia 207,038 11.12 Five Star Movement 165,243 9.86 5
Future Apulia 9,897 0.59
Total 175,140 10.45 5
Ivan Scalfarotto 29,808 1.60 Italia Viva 18,025 1.08
Scalfarotto for President 5,062 0.30
Green Future 1,888 0.11
Total 24,975 1.49
Mario Conca 16,531 0.89 Apulian Citizens 12,162 0.73
Nicola Cesaria 7,222 0.39 Work Environment Constitution 5,880 0.35
Pierfranco Bruni 3,115 0.17 Tricolour Flame 2,362 0.14
Andrea D'Agosto 2,353 0.13 Reconquer Italy 1,712 0.10
Blank and invalid votes 149,658 7.44
Total candidates 1,862,023 100.00 2 Total parties 1,676,499 100.00 49
Registered voters/turnout 3,565,013 56.43
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.

External links