1962 Italian presidential election

Election of the President of the Italian Republic May 2020 1962 Italian presidential election Italy presidential electoral no 1955 Italian presidential election 1955 2–6 May 1962 1964 Italian presidential election 1964 854 voters(248 Senators, 596 Deputies and 10 regional representativesDelegates from the five autonomous regions of Italy: Sicily, Sardinia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Aosta Valley and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.) 570 (1st–3rd ballots) or 428 (4th ballot onwards) File:Antonio Segni Official 1962.jpg 170x170px Antonio Segni Christian Democracy (Italy) 443 51.9% File:Giuseppe Saragat (3x4 cropped).jpg Giuseppe Saragat Italian Democratic Socialist Party 334 39.1% President Giovanni Gronchi DC Antonio Segni DC The 1962 Italian presidential election was held in Italy on 2–6 May 1962. Only members of Parliament and regional delegates were entitled to vote, most of these electors having been elected in the 1958 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. It was the first time the official candidate of the Christian Democracy party was elected President of the Italian Republic. Procedure In accordance with the Italian Constitution, the election was held in the form of a secret ballot, with the Senators and the Deputies 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 854 voters in order to elect a president, or 570 votes. Starting from the fourth ballot, an absolute majority was required for candidates to be elected, or 428 votes. The presidential mandate lasts seven years. The election was presided over by the President of the Chamber of Deputies Giovanni Leone, who proceeded to the public counting of the votes, and by the President of the Senate Cesare Merzagora. Proposed nominees Antonio Segni, proposed by Christian Democracy, supported by Aldo Moro; Umberto Terracini, former President of the Constituent Assembly, sustained by the Communist Party; Giuseppe Saragat, leader of Democratic Socialist Party and former President of the Constituent Assembly; Giovanni Gronchi, outgoing President, not officially endorsed by the chairman of Eni, Enrico Mattei. Timeline thumb|left|230px|Antonio Segni taking the oath on 11 May 1962 On 2 May 1962, the Italian Parliament convened in order to elect the new President of the Republic, since President Giovanni Gronchi's term was about to end. Christian Democracy leader Aldo Moro decided to endorse the candidacy of Antonio Segni, former Prime Minister and member of the conservative faction of the party. With that choice, Moro wanted to reassure the conservatives representatives of his own party, worried about a possible extreme shift on leftist stances by their party after the beginning of the Organic centre-left period in February 1962. Italian Communist Party decided to vote for Umberto Terracini on the first round, while Italian Socialist Party sustained Sandro Pertini. After the third round, communists and socialists decided to converge on the candidacy of the democratic socialist Giuseppe Saragat, who also gained the favor of some christian democrat snipers representatives. After several ballots, on 6 May 1962 Antonio Segni was finally elected President with just the 51% of the votes. His election was allowed thanks to the votes of monarchist and neo-fascist representatives. It was the first time that Christian Democracy's official candidate succeeded in being elected President of the Republic. Results CandidateFirst round2 May 1962Second round2 May 1962Third round2 May 1962Fourth round3 May 1962Fifth round4 May 1962Sixth round4 May 1962Seventh round5 May 1962Eighth round6 May 1962Ninth round6 May 1962Antonio Segni333340341354396399389424443Umberto Terracini200196–––––––Sandro Pertini120––––––––Augusto De Marsanich46––––––––Giuseppe Saragat4292299321321314332337334Giovanni Gronchi2032444543432920–Attilio Piccioni124151402817–––Paolo Rossi10––––––––Achille Lauro–38–––––––Cesare Merzagora–121311141812––Calogero Volpe––37––––––Orazio Condorelli–––38–––––Other candidates81511834151713Blank papers436546263546584551Invalid papers––––1–5–1Abstentions202312111313141312Total854854854854854854854854854Source: Presidency of the Republic Notes References Category:Presidential elections in Italy Category:1962 elections in Italy