The 2023 Democratic Party leadership election was a primary election that was held in Italy in February 2023 to elect the National Assembly and secretary of the Italian Democratic Party (PD). It consisted of a closed primary election among party members held from 9 to 19 February, and an open primary election held on 26 February.
26 February 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
600 delegates to the National Assembly of the Democratic Party 301 delegate votes needed to win | |||||||||||||||||
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Primary election results map. Cyan denotes provinces with a Schlein plurality and Red denotes those with a Bonaccini plurality. | |||||||||||||||||
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Four candidates ran in the closed primary election held in circle conventions: Stefano Bonaccini, Gianni Cuperlo, Paola De Micheli, and Elly Schlein. Bonaccini and Schlein advanced to the open primary election, where Schlein won with over 53% of the vote, becoming the first woman and the youngest person to ever serve as leader of the PD, as well as the first openly LGBT leader of a major Italian political party. The results of the election defied the predictions of nearly all polling firms, which had anticipated a Bonaccini victory. It was the PD's first party leadership election in which the winner of the members' vote lost in the open primary.
Electoral process
The process consists of two phases: a first round, in which only members of the PD can vote, and a second round, a runoff between the two candidates who got the most votes in the first round, in which every citizen who identifies with the party's ideals can vote. The PD is the only major Italian party that allows non-members to elect the secretary by open primary.
The term of office of the secretary is usually four years, along with the National Assembly; when the former resign in advance, the National Assembly can choose whether to elect another secretary, who would serve until the natural expiration of the mandate is reached, or to dissolve the National Assembly itself earlier and call a new leadership election.
After the outgoing secretary tenders their resignation, the party president must gather the members of the National Assembly within a month. On the same day, the National Assembly would elect the members of the National Committee for the Congress, which would act in place of the elected bodies until the end of the leadership election, whose main job is drafting the rules of the details procedure under which the leadership election is to take place. The National Committee also handles internal disputes and appeals relating to the leadership election.
The National Committee elects its president and sets the rules and the dates, and lay them before the National Board. The election must take place within four months following the secretary's resignation.
Timetable
| Date(s) | Event |
|---|---|
24 November | The National Board elects the National Committee and the Commission for the Congress. Start of the primaries. |
22 January | The National Assembly approves the Manifesto of Values and Principles. |
27 January | Presentation of the candidacies supported by at least the 20% of the members of the National Assembly or by 4,000 members. |
12 February | Enrollment on the local branch for new members closed. |
3–19 February | Closed primaries take place in Circle Conventions. |
26 February | Open primaries to elect the Secretary and the National Assembly. |
12 March | The National Assembly announces the winner. |
Candidates
Candidates who progressed to the final round
On 20 February 2023, the following individuals were the two top contenders in the closed vote in party circles, thus entering the primary open to voters.
| Portrait | Name | Most recent position | Campaign logo | Slogan | Announced | Refs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stefano Bonaccini (age 58) | President of Emilia-Romagna (2014–2024) Other positions
| (stefanobonaccini.it) | Energia Popolare (People's Energy) | 20 November 2022 | |||
| Elly Schlein (age 40) | Vice President of Emilia-Romagna (2020–2022) Other positions
| (ellyschlein.it) | Parte da Noi (It Starts with Us) | 4 December 2022 | |||
Before vote by party members
On 20 February 2023, the following individuals didn't manage to get enough votes in party circles to enter the primary open to voters.
| Portrait | Name | Most recent position | Campaign logo | Slogan | Announced | Refs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gianni Cuperlo (age 64) | President of the Democratic Party (2013–2014) Other positions
| (giannicuperlo.it) | Promessa Democratica (Democratic Promise) | 23 December 2022 | |||
| Paola De Micheli (age 52) | Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (2019–2021) Other positions
| (paolademicheli.it) | Concretamente (Concretely) | 27 September 2022 | |||
Declined to be candidates
The following individuals have been the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy, but have publicly denied interest in running.
- Enrico Letta, Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2021–present, 2001–2015), Secretary of the Democratic Party (2021–present), Prime Minister of Italy (2013–2014), Deputy secretary of the Democratic Party (2009–2013), Secretary of the Council of Ministers (2006–2008), Member of the European Parliament (2004–2006), Minister for the Community Policies (1998–1999), Deputy secretary of the Italian People's Party (1997–1998), Minister of Industry, Commerce and Crafts (1996–1998)
Endorsements
Candidates who progressed to the final round
Stefano Bonaccini
Stefano Bonaccini
- Former Ministers
- Roberta Pinotti, Minister of Defence (2014–2018), Member of the Senate of the Republic (2008—2022), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2001–2008)
- Lorenzo Guerini, Minister of Defence (2019–2022) Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2013–present); President of the Parliamentary Committee for the Intelligence and Security Services and for State Secret Control (2022–present); Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party (2014–-2017); Mayor of Lodi (2005–2012); President of the province of Lodi (1995–2004)
- Senators
- Carlo Cottarelli
- Simona Malpezzi, Leader in the Senate (2021–present); Undersecretary of State for Relations with Parliament (2019–2021)
- Enrico Borghi
Former
- Andrea Marcucci
- Deputies
- Anna Ascani, Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2013–present); Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies (2022-present); Vice President of the Democratic Party (2019-present); Undersecretary for Economic Development (2021–2022); Deputy Minister of Education (2020–2021); Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (2020); Undersecretary for Education, University and Research (2019-2020)
- Debora Serracchiani, Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2018–present); Leader in the Chamber of Deputies (2021–present); Deputy President of the Democratic Party (2021–present); President of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (2013–2018); Deputy Secretary of Democratic Party (2014–2017)
- Graziano Delrio, Leader in the Chamber of Deputies (2018–2021); Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (2015–2018); Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies (2013–2014)
- Piero Fassino
- Andrea De Maria
- Matteo Orfini
- Lia Quartapelle
Former
- Carmelo Miceli
- Alessia Morani
- Patrizia Prestipino
- Fausto Raciti
- Andrea Rossi
- Members of the European Parliament
- Brando Benifei
- Paolo De Castro
- Dino Giarrusso
- Pina Picierno
- Irene Tinagli, Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party (2021–present)
- Presidents of Regions
- Vincenzo De Luca — President of Campania (2015–present), Mayor of Salerno (1993–2001, 2006–2015), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2001–2008)
- Michele Emiliano — President of Apulia (2015–present), Mayor of Bari (2004–2014)
- Eugenio Giani — President of Tuscany (2020–present), President of the Regional Council of Tuscany (2015–2020), President of the Municipal Council of Florence (2009–2014), Municipal Councillor of Florence (1990–2014)
Former
- Claudio Burlando — President of Liguria (2005–2015), Minister of Transports and Navigation (1996–1998), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1996–2006), Mayor of Genoa (1992–1993)
- Catiuscia Marini — President of Umbria (2010–2019), Member of the European Parliament (2008–2009), Mayor of Todi (1997–2007)
- Mayors
- Antonio Decaro — Mayor of Bari (2014–present), Metropolitan Mayor of Bari (2015–present), President of the National Association of Italian Comunes (2016–present), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2013–2014)
- Giorgio Gori — Mayor of Bergamo (2014–present)
- Stefano Lo Russo — Mayor of Turin (2021–present), Metropolitan Mayor of Turin (2021–present)
- Valeria Mancinelli — Mayor of Ancona (2013–present)
- Dario Nardella — Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2013–2014), Mayor of Florence (2014–present), Metropolitan Mayor of Florence (2015–present)
- Matteo Ricci — Mayor of Pesaro (2014–present), President of the province of Pesaro and Urbino (2009–2014), Vice-president of the Democratic Party (2013–2017)
- Jamil Sadegholvaad — Mayor of Rimini (2021–present)
- Katia Tarasconi — Mayor of Piacenza (2022–present)
- Other politicians
- Paolo Calvano – Assessor of budget of Emilia-Romagna (2020–present)
Elly Schlein
Elly Schlein
- Former Ministers
- Fabrizio Barca, Minister of Territorial Cohesion (2011–2013)
- Pier Luigi Bersani, Secretary of the Democratic Party (2009–2013), Minister of Economic Development (2006–2008), Minister of Transports and Navigation (1999–2001), Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftmanship (1996–1999), President of Emilia-Romagna (1993–1996), Member of the European Parliament (2004–2006), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2001–2004; 2004–2006)
- Francesco Boccia, Minister of Regional Affairs and Autonomies (2019–2021), Member of the Senate of the Republic (2022–present), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2008–2022)
- Cesare Damiano, Minister of Labour and Social Policies (2006–2008), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2006–2018)
- Dario Franceschini, Minister of Culture (2014–2018; 2019–2022), Minister for Parliamentary Relations (2013–2014), Secretary of the Democratic Party (2009), Member of the Senate of the Republic (2022–present), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2001–2022)
- Beatrice Lorenzin, Minister of Health (2013–2018), Member of the Senate of the Republic (2022–present), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2008–2022)
- Andrea Orlando, Minister of Labour and Social Policies (2021–2022), Minister of Justice (2014–2018), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2006–present), Minister of the Environment (2013–2014), Deputy secretary of the Democratic Party (2019–2021)
- Giuseppe Provenzano, Minister of South (2019–2021), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2022–present), Deputy secretary of the Democratic Party (2021–present)
- Livia Turco, Minister of Health (2006–2008), Minister for Social Solidarity (1996–2001), Member of the Senate of the Republic (2006–2008), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1987–2006; 2008–2013)
- Senators
- Susanna Camusso, Member of the Senate of the Republic (2022–present), former General Secretary of the Italian General Confederation of Labour (2010–2019)
- Andrea Crisanti
- Cecilia D'Elia
- Franco Mirabelli
- Antonio Misiani
- Anna Rossomando
- Ylenia Zambito
Former
- Monica Cirinnà
- Sergio Lo Giudice
- Gianfranco Pasquino
- Sandro Ruotolo
- Ugo Sposetti
- Deputies
- Anthony Barbagallo
- Laura Boldrini, former President of the Chamber of Deputies (2013–2018), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2013–present)
- Chiara Braga, Head of Ecological Transition, Sustainability and Infrastructure
- Michela Di Biase
- Federico Fornaro
- Emiliano Fossi
- Marco Furfaro
- Valentina Ghio
- Chiara Gribaudo
- Roberto Morassut
- Luca Pastorino
- Marco Sarracino
- Arturo Scotto
- Stefano Vaccari
- Alessandro Zan
- Nicola Zingaretti, former President of Lazio (2013–2022), former President of the province of Rome (2008–2012), Secretary of the Democratic Party (2019–2021), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2022–present)
Former
- Susanna Cenni
- Andrea Maestri
- Marco Miccoli
- Rossella Muroni
- Erasmo Palazzotto
- Emma Petitti
- Marina Sereni, former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (2019–2022)
- Elisa Simoni
- Members of the European Parliament
- Camilla Laureti
- Pierfrancesco Majorino
Former
- Goffredo Bettini
- Presidents of Regions
Former
- Vasco Errani — President of Emilia Romagna (1999–2014), President of the Conference of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces (2005–2014), Member of the Senate of the Republic (2018–2022)
- Mayors
- Valentina Cuppi – Mayor of Marzabotto (2019–present), President of the Democratic Party (2020–present)
- Michele Franchi – Mayor of Arquata del Tronto (2021–present)
- Matteo Lepore — Mayor of Bologna (2021–present), Metropolitan Mayor of Bologna (2021–present)
- Patrizia Manassero — Mayor of Cuneo (2022–present), Member of the Senate of the Republic (2013–2018)
- Raffaella Mariani – Mayor of San Romano in Garfagnana (2019–present), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2001–2018)
- Giuseppe Paolini – Mayor of Isola del Piano (2010–present), President of the province of Pesaro and Urbino (2018–present)
Former
- Stefania Bonaldi – Mayor of Crema (2012–2022)
- Giuseppe Chicchi — Mayor of Rimini (1992–1993; 1993–1999), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2006–2008)
- Marco Doria — Mayor of Genoa (2012–2017), Metropolitan Mayor of Genoa (2015–2017)
- Alessandro Tambellini — Mayor of Lucca (2012–2022)
- Marta Vincenzi — Mayor of Genoa (2007–2012), President of the province of Genoa (1993–2002), Member of the European Parliament (2004–2007)
- Other politicians
- Marta Bonafoni – Regional Councillor of Lazio (2013–present)
- Caterina Cerroni – Secretary of the Young Democrats (2021–present)
- Jasmine Cristallo – Member of the Sardines movement
- Ariel Dello Strologo – Municipal Councillor of Genoa (2022–present)
- Iacopo Melio – Regional Councillor of Toscana (2020–present)
- Achille Occhetto – Secretary of the Democratic Party of the Left (1991–1994), Secretary of the Italian Communist Party (1988–1991), Member of the Senate of the Republic (2001–2006), Member of the European Parliament (1989–1999; 2006–2007), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1976–2001)
- Matteo Rossi – Former President of the province of Bergamo (2014–2018)
- Mauro Salizzoni – Regional Councillor of Piedmont (2019–present)
- Ferruccio Sansa – Regional Councillor of Liguria (2020–present)
- Mattia Santori – Municipal Councillor of Bologna (2021–present); Leader of Sardines movement (2019–2020)
- Non-political personalities
- Claudio Amendola, actor
- Gabriella Genisi, writer
- Lino Guanciale, actor
- Levante, singer
- Oliviero Toscani, photographer
- Paola Turci, singer
Before vote by party members
Gianni Cuperlo
Gianni Cuperlo
- Former Ministers
- Barbara Pollastrini, Minister for Equal Opportunities (2006–2008), Vice-president of the Democratic Party (2017–2019), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1992–1994; 2001–2022)
- Senators
Former
- Luigi Zanda
- Presidents of Regions
Former
- Mario Oliverio — President of Calabria (2014–2020), President of the province of Cosenza (2004–2014), Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1992–2006), Mayor of San Giovanni in Fiore (1990–1991)
Paola De Micheli
Paola De Micheli
- Deputies
Former
- Enza Bruno Bossio
- Other politicians
- Lorenza Bonaccorsi — President of the Municipio I of Rome
Electoral debates
| 2023 Democratic Party leadership election debates | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Organiser | Moderator | P Present I Invitee NI Non-invitee A Absent invitee | ||||||||
| Bonaccini | Cuperlo | De Micheli | Schlein | ||||||||
| 22 January | Rai 3 (Mezz'ora in più) | Lucia Annunziata | P | P | P | P | |||||
| 20 February | Sky TG24 (Il Confronto) | Fabio Vitale | P | NI | NI | P | |||||
Opinion polls
Advanced candidates
| Date | Polling firm | Sample size | Don't know | Lead | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonaccini | Schlein | |||||
| 26 Feb | Primary election | — | 46.2 | 53.8 | — | 7.6 |
| 23 Feb | BiDiMedia | Between interested voters | 38.0 | 31.0 | 31.0 | 7.0 |
| 22 Feb | Euromedia Stat | Between interested voters | 48.2 | 13.5 | 38.3 | 29.3 |
| 22 Feb | Euromedia Stat | Between PD voters | 55.1 | 21.2 | 23.7 | 33.9 |
| 20–22 Feb | Demos & Pi | Between interested voters | 57.0 | 30.0 | 13.0 | 27.0 |
| Between PD voters | 67.0 | 31.0 | 2.0 | 36.0 | ||
| 21 Feb | Izi | Between interested voters | 54.2 | 45.8 | — | 8.4 |
Before vote by party members
| Date | Polling firm | Sample size | Others – Don't know | Lead | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonaccini | Cuperlo | De Micheli | Schlein | |||||||||
| 19 Feb | Bonaccini and Schlein advance to open primary election De Micheli endorsed Bonaccini, Cuperlo leaves freedom of choice | |||||||||||
| 15 Feb | EMG | Between PD voters | 63.0–67.0 | — | — | 33.0–37.0 | 0.0 Others Don't know 0.0 | 30.0 | ||||
| 13 Feb | Intwig | Between PD voters | 61.0 | — | — | 39.0 | 0.0 Others Don't know 0.0 | 22.0 | ||||
| 11–12 Feb | Winpoll | Between PD voters | 43.7 | — | — | 56.3 | 0.0 Others Don't know 0.0 | 12.6 | ||||
| 25 Jan | Euromedia | Between PD voters | 54.0 | 6.3 | 7.8 | 18.1 | 12.8 Others Don't know 0.0 | 35.9 | ||||
| 23 Jan | EMG | Between PD voters | 44.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 24.0 | 2.0 Others Don't know 14.0 | 20.0 | ||||
| 17 Jan | Winpoll | Between PD voters | 46.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 41.0 | 0.0 Others Don't know 0.0 | 5.0 | ||||
| 51.5 | — | — | 48.5 | 0.0 Others Don't know 0.0 | 3.0 | |||||||
| 16 Jan | EMG | Between PD voters | 41.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 23.0 | 3.0 Others Don't know 14.0 | 18.0 | ||||
| 9–13 Jan | EMG | Between PD voters | 61.0–65.0 | — | — | 35.0–39.0 | 0.0 Others Don't know 0.0 | 26.0 | ||||
| 9 Jan | EMG | Between PD voters | 41.0 | 6.0 | 10.0 | 24.0 | 6.0 Others Don't know 13.0 | 17.0 | ||||
| 2 Jan | EMG | Between PD voters | 43.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 23.0 | 10.0 Others Don't know 8.0 | 20.0 | ||||
Hypothetical polls
| Date | Polling firm | Sample size | Others – Don't know | Lead | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boccia | Bonaccini | Cuperlo | De Luca | De Micheli | Nardella | Provenzano | Ricci | Schlein | |||||
| 23 Dec | Gianni Cuperlo announces his intention to run | ||||||||||||
| 19 Dec | EMG | Between interested voters | — | 45.0 | — | — | 9.0 | — | — | — | 25.0 | 6.0 Others Don't know 15.0 | 20.0 |
| 8–12 Dec | BiDiMedia | Between interested voters | — | 57.0 | — | — | 2.0 | — | — | 2.0 | 39.0 | 20.0 Others Don't know 20.0 | 18.0 |
| 7 Dec | EMG | Between PD voters | — | 65.0–69.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31.0–35.0 | 0.0 Others Don't know 0.0 | 34.0 |
| 4 Dec | Elly Schlein announces her intention to run | ||||||||||||
| 29 Nov | EMG | Between PD voters | — | 32.0 | — | — | 11.0 | 15.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 17.0 | 12.0 Others Don't know 12.0 | 15.0 |
| 29 Nov | Euromedia | Between PD voters | 4.5 | 25.9 | — | 5.9 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 21.4 | 34.3 Others Don't know 34.3 | 4.5 |
| 21 Nov | Demos & Pi | Between PD voters | — | 32.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8.0 | 25.0 Others Don't know 35.0 | 24.0 |
| 20 Nov | Stefano Bonaccini announces his intention to run | ||||||||||||
| 19 Nov | Euromedia | Between PD voters | 4.5 | 25.9 | — | 5.9 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 21.4 | 34.3 Others Don't know 34.3 | 4.5 |
| 30 Oct | Euromedia | 800 | 6.4 | 16.9 | — | — | 4.7 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 12.0 | 54.5 Others Tinagli: 2.1 Others 4.7 Don't know 47.7 | 4.9 |
| Between PD voters | 4.6 | 22.9 | — | — | 5.7 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 26.1 | 37.9 Others Tinagli: 2.1 Others 1.3 Don't know 34.5 | 3.2 | ||
| 27 Sep | Paola De Micheli announces her intention to run | ||||||||||||
Results
Vote by party members
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stefano Bonaccini | 79,787 | 52.87 | |
| Elly Schlein | 52,637 | 34.88 | |
| Gianni Cuperlo | 12,008 | 7.96 | |
| Paola De Micheli | 6,475 | 4.29 | |
| Total valid votes | 150,907 | 100.0 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 623 | – | |
| Total votes | 151,530 | 100.0 | |
| Source: Partito Democratico – Results | |||
Primary election
| Candidate | Votes | % | Delegates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elly Schlein | 587,010 | 53.75 | 333 | |
| Stefano Bonaccini | 505,032 | 46.25 | 267 | |
| Total valid votes | 1,092,042 | 100.0 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 6,581 | – | ||
| Total votes | 1,098,623 | 100.0 | – | |
| Source: Partito Democratico — results | ||||
Results by regions
| Region | Bonaccini | Schlein | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abruzzo | 50.3 | 49.7 | |
| Aosta Valley | 29.3 | 70.7 | |
| Apulia | 55.9 | 44.1 | |
| Basilicata | 61.5 | 38.5 | |
| Calabria | 64.5 | 35.5 | |
| Campania | 68.5 | 31.5 | |
| Emilia-Romagna | 56.4 | 43.6 | |
| Friuli-Venezia Giulia | 36.1 | 63.9 | |
| Lazio | 37.4 | 62.6 | |
| Liguria | 32.7 | 67.3 | |
| Lombardy | 34.9 | 65.1 | |
| Marche | 45.4 | 54.6 | |
| Molise | 69.4 | 30.6 | |
| Piedmont | 33.8 | 66.2 | |
| Sardinia | 57.1 | 42.9 | |
| Sicily | 43.2 | 56.8 | |
| Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol | 36.5 | 63.5 | |
| Tuscany | 38.1 | 61.9 | |
| Umbria | 47.9 | 52.1 | |
| Veneto | 36.3 | 63.7 | |
| World | 44.0 | 56.0 | |
| Source: Partito Democratico — results | |||
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