2013 Italian presidential election

2013 Italian presidential election

← 2006 18–20 April 2013 2015 →
1,007 voters (315 Senators, 4 Senators for life, 630 Deputies and 58 regional representatives) 672 or 504 votes needed to win
Nominee Giorgio Napolitano Stefano Rodotà Party Independent Independent Electoral vote 738 217 Percentage 73.3% 21.5%
Result on the sixth ballot (20 April 2013)   Napolitano 738   Rodotà 217   Others 20   Invalids, blanks, abstentions 32
President before election Giorgio Napolitano Independent Elected President Giorgio Napolitano Independent

The Italian presidential election of 2013 was held in Italy on 18–20 April. The result was the re-election of Giorgio Napolitano,^[1] the first time a President had been elected for a second term.^[2]

Only members of Parliament and regional delegates were entitled to vote, most of these electors having been elected in the 2013 general election. As head of state of the Italian Republic, the President has a role of representation of national unity and guarantees that Italian politics comply with the Italian Constitution, in the framework of a parliamentary system.

Procedure[]

In accordance to the Italian Constitution, the election was held in the form of a secret ballot, with the Senators, the Deputies and 58 regional representatives entitled to vote. The election was held in the Palazzo Montecitorio, home of the Chamber of Deputies, with the capacity of the building expanded for the purpose. The first three ballots required a two-thirds majority of the 1,007 voters in order to elect a president, or 672 votes. Starting from the fourth ballot, an absolute majority was required for candidates to be elected, or 504 votes. The presidential mandate lasts seven years. The term of the incumbent president, Giorgio Napolitano, was due to end on 15 May 2013.^{[citation needed]}

The election was presided over by the President of the Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini, who proceeded to the public counting of the votes, and by the President of the Senate Pietro Grasso.

Proposed candidates[]

Candidate			Region of birth	Office(s) held	Supporting party
		Annamaria Cancellieri (69) Independent	Lazio	Minister of the Interior (2011–2013) show Other offices Special commissioner of Bologna from 2010 to 2011 Special commissioner of Parma in 1994 and 2011	Civic Choice
		Franco Marini (80) Democratic Party	Abruzzo	President of the Senate (2006–2008) show Other offices Member of the Senate from 2006 to 2013 Member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1992 to 2006 Minister of Labour and Social Security from 1991 to 1992 Secretary of the Italian People's Party from 1997 to 1999 Secretary General of the Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions from 1985 to 1991	Democratic Party The People of Freedom Brothers of Italy Lega Nord
		Giorgio Napolitano (87) Independent	Campania	President of Italy (2006–2015) show Other offices Minister of the Interior from 1996 to 1998 Minister for Civil Protection Coordination from 1996 to 1998 President of the Chamber of Deputies from 1992 to 1994 Senator for life from 2005 to 2006 Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1992; from 1999 to 2004 Member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1953 to 1963; from 1968 to 1996	Democratic Party The People of Freedom Civic Choice Lega Nord Union of the Centre
		Romano Prodi (73) Democratic Party	Emilia-Romagna	President of the European Commission (1999–2004) show Other offices President of the Democratic Party from 2007 to 2009 Prime Minister of Italy from 1996 to 1998; from 2006 to 2008 Member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1996 to 1999; from 2006 to 2008 Minister of Industry, Commerce and Crafts from 1978 to 1979	Democratic Party
		Stefano Rodotà (79) Independent	Calabria	President of the Democratic Party of the Left (1991–1992) show Other offices President of the Italian Authority for the Protection of Personal Data from 1997 to 2005 Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1992 Member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1979 to 1992	Five Star Movement Left Ecology Freedom

Chronology[]

On 16 April 2013 the Five Star Movement (M5S) announced its support for investigative journalist Milena Gabanelli, and the party's leader Beppe Grillo indicated that the party might be willing to form a coalition government with the centre-left coalition if she were elected president with the coalition's support.^[3] On 17 April, after Gabanelli and Gino Strada withdrew from consideration, the M5S announced its support for Stefano Rodotà, a former President of the Data Protection Authority,^[4] member of the Chamber of Deputies, Member of the European Parliament, and president of the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS).^[5]

On 17 April Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the Democratic Party (PD), put forward Franco Marini, a former leader of the Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions (CISL), leader of the Italian People's Party (PPI) and President of the Italian Senate, as his party's candidate for president. Marini was selected having received the support of centre-right parties, notably The People of Freedom (PdL), Civic Choice (SC), Lega Nord (LN) and the Union of the Centre (UdC). However, Matteo Renzi, mayor of Florence and leader of a party minority, several Democratic Party lawmakers and Left Ecology Freedom (SEL) stated that they would not support Marini.^[6]

On 18 April Marini received just 521 votes in the first ballot, short of the 672 needed, as more than 200 centre-left delegates rebelled. In the run-up of the second ballot Marini's candidacy was retired. The first two rounds' inconclusive results were interpreted as showing turmoil within the centre-left.^[7] As results of apparent jokes by electors, a number of implausible candidates, such as football manager Roberto Mancini and porn star Rocco Siffredi, received individual votes.^[7]

On 19 April the PD and SEL selected Romano Prodi, a former Prime Minister and President of the European Commission, to be their candidate in the fourth ballot.^[8] Despite the fact that his candidacy had received unanimous support among the two parties' delegates, Prodi obtained only 395 votes in the fourth ballot as more than 100 centre-left electors did not vote for him. After the vote, Bersani announced his resignation from party secretary and Prodi pulled out of the race.^[9]

On 20 April incumbent President Giorgio Napolitano, holder of the post since 2006, agreed to run for another term in an attempt to break the parliamentary deadlock with the aim of safeguarding the continuity of the country's institutions.^[10]

Parties' voters[]

The number of seats per party was as follows:

Composition of the electoral college

Party		Members (total)	Members		Share
			MPs (Chamber and Senate)	Regional delegates
	Democratic Party (PD)	423	399	24	42.0%
	The People of Freedom (PdL)	211	188	23	20.9%
	Five Star Movement (M5S)	163	163	0	16.2%
	Civic Choice/Union of the Centre (SC/UdC)	71	69	2	7.0%
	Left Ecology Freedom (SEL)	44	43	1	4.4%
	Lega Nord (LN)	38	34	4	3.8%
	Others	57	52	5	5.7%
Total		1,007	949	58	100.0%

Results[]

In the first three ballots the required majority was 672 votes. Further ballots require a simple majority of electors, in this case 504 votes.

Berlusconi and his coalition refused to support the PD's Fourth Round choice of Romano Prodi, claiming he was unacceptable as a compromise candidate. As a result, leaders from all political parties except for Beppe Grillo turned to Napolitano and held discussions with him in order to convince him to run again.^[2] Even though he had openly stated his refusal to consider running again in an interview a week before, Napolitano reluctantly agreed,^[2] and the party leaders subsequently urged electors to back him as a show of unity.^[11]

Napolitano was comfortably re-elected, having garnered the support of centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani, former Prime Minister and centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, and interim PM and centrist Mario Monti.^[12]

First ballot[]

Second ballot[]

Third ballot[]

Fourth ballot[]

Fifth ballot[]

Sixth ballot[]

Reactions[]

After the election results were announced, demonstrations took place outside Palazzo Montecitorio against the re-election of Napolitano. A sizable number of protesters were supporters of the Five Star Movement led by Beppe Grillo. Grillo himself condemned Napolitano's re-election, claiming this was a "coup d'état."^[11]

Pier Luigi Bersani promised to resign as leader of the PD in response to the lack of support within his coalition for Romano Prodi, the party's preference for president on the fourth ballot.^[11] Following his resignation, former trade union leader Guglielmo Epifani was elected in his place on 11 May 2013.^[13]

References[]