Politics of Apulia

The Politics of Apulia, Italy takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democracy, whereby the President of Regional Government is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Regional Government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Regional Council.

Executive

The Regional Government ("Giunta Regionale") is presided by the President of the Region ("Presidente della Regione"), who is elected for a five-year term, and is composed by the President and the Ministers ("Assessori"), who are currently 14, including a Vice President. [ [http://www.regione.puglia.it/index.php?page=struttura&opz=giunta&cust=1 QUIregione ] ]

Current composition

List of Presidents

Legislative branch

The Regional Council of Apulia ("Consiglio Regionale della Puglia") is composed of 70 members. The Council is elected for a five-year term, but, if the President suffers a vote of no confidence, resigns or dies, under the "simul stabunt vel simul cadent" prevision (introduced in 1999), also the Council will be dissolved and there will be a fresh election. [http://www.consiglio.regione.lombardia.it/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=PRI.1046.1&p_p_id=20&p_p_action=1&p_p_state=exclusive&p_p_col_id=null&p_p_col_pos=2&p_p_col_count=3&_20_struts_action=%2Fdocument_library%2Fget_file&_20_folderId=69&_20_name=l+cost+199_PDF.pdf]

Current composition

Elections

Last regional election

In the last regional election, which took place on 3-4 April 2005, Nichi Vendola (Communist Refoundation Party) defeated incumbert Raffaele Fitto (Forza Italia). [ [http://elezionistorico.interno.it/listeRegionaliCompleta.php?tp=R&dt=03/04/2005&cta=I&tpEnte=R&tpSeg=R&numEnte=16&sut1=16&sut2=0&sut3=0&descEnte=%20Regione:%20PUGLIA&descArea=&codTipoSegLeader= ::: Ministero dell'Interno ::: Archivio Storico delle Elezioni - Regionali del 3 Aprile 2005 ] ]

The success of Vendola came somewhat unexpected. In a Southern Italian Region, expected to be morally conservative, Vendola, a communist and a homosexual, defeated Fitto, a Christian democrat. Vendola was the first candidate ever to be appointed by its coalition through a primary election instead of agreements between parties. A defeat of Vendola might have resulted in a cancellation of the primary election of The Union for choosing the candidate for Prime Minister in the 2006 general election.

Other elections

References

External links

* [http://www.regione.puglia.it/ Apulia Region]
* [http://www.consiglio.puglia.it/ Regional Council of Apulia]
* [http://www.consiglio.puglia.it/documentazione/statuto.pdf Constitution of Apulia]