2015 Italian presidential election
The Italian presidential election of 2015 was held on 29–31 January, following the resignation of incumbent President Giorgio Napolitano on 14 January 2015. The office was held at the time of the election by Senate President Pietro Grasso in an acting capacity. Only members of Italian Parliament and regional delegates are entitled to vote. 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.
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1,009 voters (315 Senators, 6 Senators for life, 630 Deputies and 58 regional representatives) 673 or 505 votes needed to win | |||||||||||||||||
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On 31 January, at the fourth round of voting, Constitutional Court Judge Sergio Mattarella was elected President of the Italian Republic with 665 votes out of 1,009.
Procedure
In accordance with the Italian Constitution, the election is held in the form of a secret ballot, with the Senators, the Deputies and 58 regional representatives entitled to vote. The election is held in the Palazzo Montecitorio, home of the Chamber of Deputies, with the capacity of the assembly room expanded for the purpose. The first three ballots require a two-thirds majority of the 1,009 voters in order to elect a President, or 673 votes. Starting from the fourth ballot, an absolute majority is required for candidates to be elected, or 505 votes. The presidential mandate lasts seven years.
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 Acting President of the Senate Valeria Fedeli, instead of President Pietro Grasso who was serving as Acting President of the Republic since 14 January.
Candidates
- Sergio Mattarella, a senior judge, was the candidate of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the governing Democratic Party.[1]
- Ferdinando Imposimato, another senior judge, was backed by the Five Star Movement.[1]
- Stefano Rodotà, former Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies.
- Vittorio Feltri, a journalist, was a presidential candidate of Lega Nord and Brothers of Italy.
Electoral college
Electors per parliamentary group (including the regional delegates) were divided as follows:
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| Party | Members (total) | Members | Share | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPs (Chamber and Senate) | Regional delegates | ||||
| Democratic Party (PD) | 445 | 415 | 30 | 44.1% | |
| Forza Italia (FI) | 143 | 130 | 13 | 14.1% | |
| Five Star Movement (M5S) | 129 | 128 | 1 | 12.8% | |
| Popular Area (NCD/UdC) | 74 | 70 | 4 | 7.3% | |
| Lega Nord (LN) | 38 | 35 | 3 | 3.8% | |
| Left Ecology Freedom (SEL) | 34 | 33 | 1 | 3.4% | |
| Civic Choice (SC) | 32 | 32 | 0 | 3.2% | |
| Others | 114 | 108 | 6 | 11.3% | |
| Total | 1,009 | 951 | 58 | 100.0% | |
Results
| Candidate | First round 29 January 2015 |
Second round 30 January 2015 |
Third round 30 January 2015 |
Fourth round 31 January 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sergio Mattarella | 5 | 4 | 4 | 665 | ||
| Ferdinando Imposimato | 120 | 123 | 126 | 127 | ||
| Vittorio Feltri | 49 | 51 | 56 | 46 | ||
| Stefano Rodotà | 23 | 22 | 22 | 17 | ||
| Emma Bonino | 25 | 23 | 23 | 2 | ||
| Romano Prodi | 9 | 5 | 3 | 2 | ||
| Antonio Martino | 3 | – | – | 2 | ||
| Giorgio Napolitano | – | – | – | 2 | ||
| Luciana Castellina | 37 | 34 | 33 | – | ||
| Lucio Barani | 4 | 3 | 21 | – | ||
| Giuseppe Pagano | 3 | 7 | 11 | – | ||
| Claudio Sabelli Fioretti | 11 | 14 | 8 | – | ||
| Marcello Gualdani | 6 | 10 | 7 | – | ||
| Mauro Guerra | – | 3 | 5 | – | ||
| Francesco Guccini | – | – | 4 | – | ||
| Luigi Manconi | – | – | 4 | – | ||
| Ignazio Messina | 3 | 3 | 3 | – | ||
| Angelo Perrino | – | – | 3 | – | ||
| Antonio Razzi | – | 4 | 2 | – | ||
| Ezio Greggio | 2 | 3 | 2 | – | ||
| Franco Frattini | – | 2 | 2 | – | ||
| Ernesto Abaterusso | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Pier Ferdinando Casini | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Michele Emiliano | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Giovanni Malagò | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Luigi Marino | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Vincenzo Olita | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Antonio Palmieri | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Pasquale Sollo | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Andrea Vecchio | – | – | 2 | – | ||
| Santo Versace | – | 6 | – | – | ||
| Paola Severino | – | 5 | – | – | ||
| Carlo Sangalli | – | 4 | – | – | ||
| Pierluigi Bersani | 5 | 2 | – | – | ||
| Giuseppe Scognamiglio | 4 | 2 | – | – | ||
| Agostino Marianetti | 3 | 2 | – | – | ||
| Anna Finocchiaro | 2 | 2 | – | – | ||
| Luciano Cimmino | – | 2 | – | – | ||
| Gabriele Albertini | 14 | – | – | – | ||
| Mauro Morelli | 9 | – | – | – | ||
| Massimo Caleo | 8 | – | – | – | ||
| Ricardo Antonio Merlo | 3 | – | – | – | ||
| Paolo Mieli | 3 | – | – | – | ||
| Antonello Zitelli | 3 | – | – | – | ||
| Dario Baldini D'Amato | 2 | – | – | – | ||
| Other candidates | 48 | 61 | 70 | 14 | ||
| Blank papers | 538 | 531 | 513 | 105 | ||
| Invalid papers | 33 | 26 | 27 | 13 | ||
| Absentees | 34 | 56 | 40 | 14 | ||
| Total | 1,009 | 1,009 | 1,009 | 1,009 | ||
| Source: Parliament of Italy | ||||||
References
- Giada Zampano, "Lawmakers in Italy Fail to Elect President in First Round of Voting", The Wall Street Journal, 29 January 2015.
