2009 Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election

2009 election of the leader of the Democratic Party of Italy 2009 Democratic Party leadership election presidential no 2007 Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election 2007 2013 Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election 2013 25 October 2009 160x160px Pier Luigi Bersani DF013A 1,623,239 53.2% 530 160x160px Dario Franceschini 819FF7 1,045,123 34.3% 339 160x160px Ignazio Marino A1C935 380,904 12.5% 131 Secretary Dario Franceschini Pier Luigi Bersani The 2009 Democratic Party leadership election was held in July–November 2009, following the resignation of Walter Veltroni in February 2009, after 16 months as secretary of the Democratic Party (PD), a political party in Italy. Pier Luigi Bersani, a former minister in several centre-left governments hailing from the Italian Communist Party (then Democratic Party of the Left and Democrats of the Left), was elected secretary in an open primary on 25 October. Three million Democratic supporters turned out to vote and it was a real fight between three candidates, with Bersani winning with only 53% of the votes cast. Bersani was declared new secretary of the party during the first meeting of the party's new national assembly elected on 7 November 2009. On that occasion Rosy Bindi was elected president of the party (with Marina Sereni and Ivan Scalfarotto vice-presidents), while Enrico Letta and Antonio Misiani were nominated deputy-secretary and treasurer, respectively.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/novembre/07/squadra_Bersani_Letta_sara_numero_co_8_091107035.shtml La squadra di Bersani Letta sarà numero due Scalfarotto vicepresidente Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/novembre/08/Bersani_segretario_siamo_alternativa_Sulle_co_8_091108008.shtml Bersani segretario: siamo l' alternativa Sulle riforme confronto in Parlamento Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 Background and rules Veltroni, a former leader of the Democrats of the Left and Deputy Prime Minister in Prodi I Cabinet, was elected in an open primary election in 2007 by a landslide, but left the post of leader after a series of electoral defeats one and a half years before the natural conclusion of his term. He was replaced by his deputy, Dario Franceschini, a former left-wing Christian Democrat hailing from Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy. Candidates were required to present their candidacies by 31 July 2009. From that point til the end of September party members voted in local conventions, choosing between the candidates and electing the delegates for the national convention. Under party rules the candidates who receive the support of at least the 15% of voting party members in local conventions or in any case the three most voted candidates, provided that they had received at least 5% of the vote, qualify for the second round of the race and have the chance to present their platform at the national convention. After the national convention, that was scheduled on 11 October, the selected candidates stood in an open primary election, held on 25 October, with all Italian citizens aged at least 16 and non-Italian legal residents being eligible to vote. Voters elected also the national assembly of the party and the regional secretaries and assemblies. If no candidate was to get more than 50% of the vote, a run-off between the two most voted candidates would have taken place in the national assembly, scheduled within two weeks from the primary election.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/giugno/27/alla_conta_congresso_ottobre_co_8_090627014.shtml Il Pd va alla conta: congresso a ottobre Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14http://www.partitodemocratico.it/dettaglio/82595/regolamento_per_lelezione_del_segretario_e_dellassemblea_nazionale Regolamento per l'elezione del Segretario e dell'Assemblea Nazionale PartitoDemocratico.it 2010-12-14 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220634/http://www.partitodemocratico.it/dettaglio/82595/regolamento_per_lelezione_del_segretario_e_dellassemblea_nazionale 2011-07-16 Candidates Three candidates ran for secretary: Dario Franceschini (campaign website) — Franceschini, a former left-wing Christian Democrat and outgoing secretary, who announced his candidacy on 24 June,http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/giugno/25/Franceschini_scende_campo_Non_lascio_co_8_090625025.shtml Franceschini scende in campo "Non lascio a chi c' era prima" Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 presented himself as the heir of Veltroni's political line, that basically meant vocazione maggioritaria and extensive use of primaries. He was thus supported by most Veltroniani,http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/giugno/16/Veltroni_nuovo_campo_schiera_con_co_8_090616032.shtml Veltroni di nuovo in campo e si schiera con Franceschini Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/03/Veltroni_sceglie_Franceschini_maggioritario_non_co_9_090703026.shtml Veltroni sceglie Franceschini "Pd maggioritario o non c' è" Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 the bulk of The Populars,http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/giugno/30/Con_Franceschini_per_partito_autonomo_co_8_090630024.shtml Con Franceschini per un partito autonomo No a chi rimpiange il collateralismo Cgil Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14http://www.quartafase.it/pagina.asp?sez=news&id=53 Quarta Fase dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110722050553/http://www.quartafase.it/pagina.asp?sez=news&id=53 2011-07-22 Francesco Rutelli's Free Democratshttp://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/03/Rutelli_chiama_raccolta_suoi_ora_co_9_090703030.shtml Rutelli chiama a raccolta i suoi: ora un nuovo inizio Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/05/Rutelli_appoggio_Franceschini_certe_condizioni_co_8_090705043.shtml Rutelli: appoggio Franceschini ma a certe condizioni Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 and their sister-factions (Democratic Ecologists, Liberal PD and Teodems)http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/04/Rutelli_avverte_candidati_Noi_non_co_9_090704032.shtml Rutelli avverte i candidati "Noi non faremo sconti" Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 as well as some elements of the party's left-wing and also the Simply Democrats list. Among party heavyweights, other than Veltroni, Rutelli and Franco Marini, Franceschini was supported by Piero Fassino, former leader of the Democrats of the Left, who coordinated his campaign.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/02/Bersani_lancia_sua_sfida_deve_co_8_090702012.shtml Bersani lancia la sua sfida "Il Pd deve essere laico" Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 Pier Luigi Bersani (campaign website) — Several times minister, Bersani, who announced his bid on 1 July, represented essentially the more social-democratic wing of the party in the PCI/PDS/DS tradition, and he was indeed supported by Dalemiani (Massimo D'Alema and his Reformists and Democrats group), To the Left and Democracy and Socialism.http://www.democraziaesocialismo.net/sito/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=313&Itemid=27 Pd: Angius, "Spero Che Bersani Riesca Nell'Impresa." Democrazia e Socialismo 2010-12-14 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110723091200/http://www.democraziaesocialismo.net/sito/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=313&Itemid=27 2011-07-23 However, Bersani, who stood for a PD set in the tradition of The Olive Tree and was open to an alliance with other parties both on the party's left and right, obtained the support of Romano Prodi's Olivistshttp://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/giugno/30/Asse_Bersani_prodiani_nel_disputa_co_8_090630015.shtml Asse Bersani-prodiani E nel Pd è disputa sul "marchio" Ulivo Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 (although not that of Arturo Parisi who supported Franceschini instead),http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/ottobre/24/Sfida_per_primarie_oggi_gli_co_8_091024045.shtml Sfida per le primarie, oggi gli ultimi appelli Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 Rosy Bindi's Democrats Reallyhttp://www.corriere.it/politica/09_giugno_27/Bindi_sostengo_Bersani_ma_niente_ticket_Non_mi_sento_di_promuovere_il_segretario_aldo_cazzullo_89c79966-62ee-11de-ac0d-00144f02aabc.shtml Bindi: "Sostengo Bersani ma niente ticket .Non promuovo il segretario" - Corriere della Sera Corriere.it 2010-12-14 and the 360 Association, whose leader Enrico Letta was a keen centrist.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/giugno/14/campo_per_Bersani_lascia_socialdemocrazia_co_9_090614003.shtml Io in campo per Bersani se lascia la socialdemocrazia Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 Bersani, whose party would rely more on activists than primaries, was supported by many Northerners who wanted a strong party with a federal structure and a strong organization, in order to compete with Lega Nord. These included Filippo Penati, who served as coordinator of Bersani's campaign.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/giugno/28/ministro_chiama_Penati_per_coordinare_co_8_090628026.shtml L' ex ministro chiama Penati per coordinare la campagna Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 Ignazio Marino (campaign website) — Marino, well-known surgeon and senator, stepped into the leadership race on 4 July.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/05/chirurgo_terzo_uomo_Con_Bettini_co_8_090705037.shtml Il chirurgo: io il terzo uomo Con me Bettini ed Englaro Corriere della Sera 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 He was supported by the very socially liberal wing of the party regarding ethical issues, disgruntled Dalemiani (as Marino himself is) and some Veltroniani led by Goffredo Bettini, a senator who was the closest aide to Veltroni during his leadership and who was not interested in supporting Franceschini.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/09/Bettini_Franceschini_specchio_della_crisi_co_9_090709031.shtml Bettini: Franceschini lo specchio della crisi Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 The candidacy of Marino might have prompted an alternative bid of Paola Binetti, leader of the socially conservative Teodems,http://www.iltempo.it/politica/2012/12/13/nel-pd-parte-la-corsa-br-per-sostituire-franceschini-1.225524 Il Tempo - Nel Pd parte la corsa per sostituire Franceschini Il Tempo 2009-06-24 2010-12-14 2013-11-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20131101170400/http://www.iltempo.it/politica/2012/12/13/nel-pd-parte-la-corsa-br-per-sostituire-franceschini-1.225524 dead but she finally chose to support Franceschini, along with Rutelli, as also Ermete Realacci, leader of the Democratic Ecologists did.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/08/Bersani_modello_bocciofila_servono_tessere_co_8_090708034.shtml Bersani e il "modello bocciofila" "Pd, servono tessere e disciplina" Corriere della Sera 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 Mario Adinolfi, a former Christian Democrat, journalist and blogger who ran also in 2007 (gaining a mere 0.2%), announced his candidacy on 30 June, proposing "direct democracy" and a "radical renewal",http://www.partitodemocratico.it/dettaglio/82790/mario_adinolfi_in_corsa_per_la_segreteria_del_pd Mario Adinolfi in corsa per la segreteria del PD PartitoDemocratico.it 2010-12-14 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220714/http://www.partitodemocratico.it/dettaglio/82790/mario_adinolfi_in_corsa_per_la_segreteria_del_pd 2011-07-16 but finally withdrew in favour of Franceschini.http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=369033 Retromarcia Adinolfi si ritira: "Sostengo Dario" Spunta il 4° uomo - Interni - ilGiornale.it del 24-07-2009 Ilgiornale.it 2009-07-24 2010-12-14 Renato Nicolini, architect, university professor and former culture councillor of Rome under three Communist mayors (1976–1985), announced his bid on 21 July,http://www.corriere.it/politica/09_luglio_21/pd_nicolini_si_candida_alla_segreteria_3122f4ba-75f7-11de-95fa-00144f02aabc.shtml Pd, spunta anche Nicolini - Corriere della Sera Corriere.it 2010-12-14 but he later withdrew from the race after failing to collect the required signatures in support of his bid. Beppe Grillo, popular comedian and blogger, announced his bid on 12 July,http://www.corriere.it/politica/09_luglio_12/grillo_candida_primarie_pd_35451794-6ef9-11de-b2e2-00144f02aabc.shtml Grillo: "Mi candido alle primarie del Pd" - Corriere della Sera Corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 but its candidacy was rejected by the party's electoral commission.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/luglio/15/democratici_Grillo_Mozione_sulla_vita_co_8_090715020.shtml I democratici: no a Grillo Mozione sulla vita del premier Archiviostorico.corriere.it 2009-12-24 2010-12-14 Opinion polls According to an opinion poll taken on 13 July 2009 by Crespi Ricerche, a 33.4% of Democratic voters would have voted in the primary election. Under the same poll, Franceschini was backed by a 27.1% of respondents, Bersani by a 25.4%, Grillo by a 19.8% and Marino by a 15.2%; a 12.5% was undecided.http://www.clandestinoweb.com/sondaggi-da-tutto-il-mondo/68881-crespi-ricerche-le-primarie-del-pd-grillo-sfiora-i.html CRESPI RICERCHE: LE PRIMARIE DEL PD - GRILLO SFIORA IL 20% - Clandestinoweb: sondaggi politici, elettorali. Il sondaggio politico elettorale che fa opinione Clandestinoweb 2010-12-14 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110708162154/http://www.clandestinoweb.com/sondaggi-da-tutto-il-mondo/68881-crespi-ricerche-le-primarie-del-pd-grillo-sfiora-i.html 2011-07-08 Another poll by IPR Marketing, published on 11 August, put Bersani largely ahead with 54%, Franceschini distant second with 35% and Marino third with 11%. According to this poll a 56% of Democratic voters (that is to say 19% of the whole electorate) are likely or sure to go to the polls.https://archive.today/20130218183320/http://archivio.sondaggipoliticoelettorali.it/asp/visualizza_sondaggio.asp?idsondaggio=3527 A poll published by Crespi Ricerche on 10 September put Bersani and Franceschini neck and neck, respectively at 43.7% and 39.6%, with Marino distant third with 9.2% and 7.5% of voters who declared themselves as undecided.http://archivio.sondaggipoliticoelettorali.it/asp/visualizza_sondaggio.asp?idsondaggio=3540 Archived copy 2012-06-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060331/http://archivio.sondaggipoliticoelettorali.it/asp/visualizza_sondaggio.asp?idsondaggio=3540 2016-03-04 dead Results Vote by party members On 8 October 2009 the party's electoral commission released the results of the vote among party members. In the local congresses a 56.4% of party members got out and vote. Bersani was by far the most voted candidate with 55.1% of the vote, largely ahead of Franceschini (37.0%) and Marino (7.9%).http://www.partitodemocratico.it/dettaglio/87452/i_dati_definitivi_dei_congressi_di_circolo I dati definitivi dei congressi di circolo PartitoDemocratico.it 2010-12-14 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220819/http://www.partitodemocratico.it/dettaglio/87452/i_dati_definitivi_dei_congressi_di_circolo 2011-07-16 Candidates Votes % Pier Luigi Bersani255,18955.1 Dario Franceschini171.04137.0 Ignazio Marino36.6747.9Total462,904100.0Source: Democratic Party Electoral Commission Vote by party members #ddd 450px 350px Bersani #DF013A 55.1 Franceschini #819FF7 37.0 Marino #A1C935 7.9 Primary election On 25 October 2009 more than 3 million voters turned out to vote in an open primary. Bersani was elected new secretary of the party with 53.2% of the popular vote, Franceschini came second with 34.3% and Marino third with 12.5%. The following results refer to the 100% of ballots counted: Candidates Votes % Delegates Pier Luigi Bersani1,603,53153.2530 Dario Franceschini1,035,02634.3339 Ignazio Marino378,21112.5131Total3,016,768100.01,000Sources: Democratic Party Electoral Commission, La Repubblica and La Stampa Popular vote #ddd 450px 350px Bersani #DF013A 53.2 Franceschini #819FF7 34.2 Marino #A1C935 12.5 Delegates summary Portrait NameLogoDelegates 100px Pier Luigi Bersani border|160x160px 530/1000 (530 1000 0) 1000 530 #DF013A 203 100px Dario Franceschini 160x160px 339/1000 (339 1000 0) 1000 339 #819FF7 203 100px Ignazio Marino 160x160px 131/1000 (131 1000 0) 1000 131 #A1C935 203 References 30em External links Official Website Category:2009 elections in Italy Category:Political party leadership elections in Italy Category:Democratic Party (Italy) Democratic Party (Italy) leadership election