2013 Italian presidential election

The 2013 Italian presidential election was held in Italy on 18–20 April 2013. The result was the re-election of Giorgio Napolitano, the first time a president had been elected for a second term.

2013 Italian presidential election

18–20 April 2013
1,007 voters (315 Senators, 4 Senators for life, 630 Deputies and 58 regional representatives) 672 (1st–3rd ballots) or 504 (4th ballot onwards) votes needed to win
Nominee Giorgio Napolitano Stefano Rodotà Party Independent Independent Electoral vote 738 217 Percentage 73.3% 21.5%
Result on the sixth ballot (20 April 2013)   Napolitano 738   Rodotà 217   Others 20   Invalids, blanks, abstentions 32
President before election Giorgio Napolitano Independent Elected President Giorgio Napolitano Independent

Only members of Parliament and regional delegates were entitled to vote, most of these electors having been elected in the 2013 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.

Procedure

In accordance with the Italian Constitution, the election was held in the form of a secret ballot, with the Senators, the Deputies and 58 regional representatives 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 1,007 voters in order to elect a president, or 672 votes. Starting from the fourth ballot, an absolute majority was required for candidates to be elected, or 504 votes. The presidential mandate lasts seven years. The term of the incumbent president, Giorgio Napolitano, was due to end on 15 May 2013.

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 President of the Senate Pietro Grasso.

Proposed candidates

These candidates were officially proposed as president and voted in at least one ballot, by parties, coalitions or parliamentary groups which took part in the election.

Elected president

Portrait	Name	Party		Office(s) held	Region of birth	Profession(s)	Supporting party or coalition	Ref.
	Giorgio Napolitano (1925–2023)		Independent	President of Italy (2006–2015) Other offices Minister of the Interior (1996–1998) President of the Chamber of Deputies (1992–1994) Senator for life (2005–2006) Member of the European Parliament (1989–1992; 1999–2004) Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1953–1963; 1968–1996)	Campania	Jurist	PD • PdL SC • LN • UdC

Other candidates

Portrait	Name	Party		Office(s) held	Region of birth	Profession(s)	Supporting party or coalition	Ref.
	Stefano Rodotà (1933–2017)		Independent	Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies (1992) Other offices President of the Democratic Party of the Left (1991–1992) President of the Authority for the Protection of Personal Data (1997–2005) Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1979-1992)	Calabria	Jurist	M5S • SEL

Withdrawn candidates

Portrait	Name	Party		Office(s) held	Region of birth	Profession(s)	Supporting party or coalition	Ref.
	Annamaria Cancellieri (born 1943)		Independent	Minister of the Interior (2011–2013)	Lazio	Civil servant	SC
	Franco Marini (1933–2021)		Democratic Party	President of the Senate (2006–2008) Other offices Member of the Senate (2006–2013) Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1992–2006) Minister of Labour and Social Security (1991–1992) Secretary of the Italian People's Party (1997–1999) Secretary General of the Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions (1985–1991)	Abruzzo	Trade unionist	PD • PdL • LN
	Romano Prodi (born 1939)		Democratic Party	President of the European Commission (1999–2004) Other offices President of the Democratic Party (2007–2009) Prime Minister of Italy (1996–1998; 2006–2008) Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1996–1999; 2006–2008) Minister of Industry, Commerce and Crafts (1978–1979)	Emilia-Romagna	University professor	PD • SEL

Chronology

On 16 April 2013, the Five Star Movement (M5S), following an online vote from party members, announced its support for investigative journalist Milena Gabanelli, and the party's leader Beppe Grillo indicated that the party might be willing to form a coalition government with the centre-left coalition if she were elected president with the coalition's support. On 17 April, after Gabanelli and Gino Strada withdrew from consideration, the M5S announced its support for Stefano Rodotà, a former President of the Data Protection Authority, member of the Chamber of Deputies, Member of the European Parliament, and president of the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS).

On 17 April, Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the Democratic Party (PD), put forward Franco Marini, a former leader of the Italian Confederation of Workers' Trade Unions (CISL), leader of the Italian People's Party (PPI) and President of the Italian Senate, as his party's candidate for president. Marini was selected having received the support of centre-right parties, notably The People of Freedom (PdL), Civic Choice (SC), Lega Nord (LN) and the Union of the Centre (UdC). However, Matteo Renzi, mayor of Florence and leader of a party minority, several Democratic Party lawmakers and Left Ecology Freedom (SEL) stated that they would not support Marini.

On 18 April, Marini received just 521 votes in the first ballot, short of the 672 needed, as more than 200 centre-left delegates rebelled. In the run-up of the second ballot Marini's candidacy was retired. The first two rounds' inconclusive results were interpreted as showing turmoil within the centre-left. As results of apparent jokes by electors, a number of implausible candidates, such as football manager Roberto Mancini and porn star Rocco Siffredi, received individual votes.

On 19 April, the PD and SEL selected Romano Prodi, a former Prime Minister and President of the European Commission, to be their candidate in the fourth ballot. Despite the fact that his candidacy had received unanimous support among the two parties' delegates, Prodi obtained only 395 votes in the fourth ballot as more than 100 centre-left electors did not vote for him. After the vote, Bersani announced his resignation from party secretary and Prodi pulled out of the race.

On 20 April, incumbent President Giorgio Napolitano, holder of the post since 2006, agreed to run for another term in an attempt to break the parliamentary deadlock with the aim of safeguarding the continuity of the country's institutions.

Parties' voters

The number of seats per party was as follows:

Composition of the electoral college

Party		Members (total)	Members		Share
			MPs (Chamber and Senate)	Regional delegates
	Democratic Party (PD)	423	399	24	42.0%
	The People of Freedom (PdL)	211	188	23	20.9%
	Five Star Movement (M5S)	163	163	0	16.2%
	Civic Choice/Union of the Centre (SC/UdC)	71	69	2	7.0%
	Left Ecology Freedom (SEL)	44	43	1	4.4%
	Lega Nord (LN)	38	34	4	3.8%
	Others	57	52	5	5.7%
Total		1,007	949	58	100.0%

Results

In the first three ballots the required majority was 672 votes. Further ballots require a simple majority of electors, in this case 504 votes.

Berlusconi and his coalition refused to support the PD's Fourth Round choice of Romano Prodi, claiming he was unacceptable as a compromise candidate. As a result, leaders from all political parties except for Beppe Grillo turned to Napolitano and held discussions with him in order to convince him to run again. Even though he had openly stated his refusal to consider running again in an interview a week before, Napolitano reluctantly agreed, and the party leaders subsequently urged electors to back him as a show of unity.

Napolitano was comfortably re-elected, having garnered the support of centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani, former Prime Minister and centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, and interim PM and centrist Mario Monti.

First ballot

Candidate		Party	Votes
	Franco Marini	Democratic Party	521
	Stefano Rodotà	Independent	240
	Sergio Chiamparino	Democratic Party	41
	Romano Prodi	Democratic Party	14
	Emma Bonino	Italian Radicals	13
	Massimo D'Alema	Democratic Party	12
	Giorgio Napolitano	Independent	10
	Anna Finocchiaro	Democratic Party	7
	Annamaria Cancellieri	Independent	2
	Mario Monti	Civic Choice	2
	Others		18
Blank votes			104
Invalid votes			15

Second ballot

Candidate		Party	Votes
	Stefano Rodotà	Independent	230
	Sergio Chiamparino	Democratic Party	90
	Massimo D'Alema	Democratic Party	38
	Franco Marini	Democratic Party	15
	Alessandra Mussolini	The People of Freedom	15
	Romano Prodi	Democratic Party	13
	Emma Bonino	Italian Radicals	10
	Sergio Di Caprio	Independent	9
	Cosimo Sibilia	The People of Freedom	7
	Rosy Bindi	Democratic Party	6
	Paola Severino	Independent	5
	Silvio Berlusconi	The People of Freedom	4
	Pier Luigi Bersani	Democratic Party	4
	Anna Finocchiaro	Democratic Party	4
	Giorgio Napolitano	Independent	4
	Ricardo Antonio Merlo	MAIE	3
	Pierluigi Castagnetti	Democratic Party	2
	Michele Cucuzza	Independent	2
	Arnaldo Forlani	Independent	2
	Pietro Grasso	Democratic Party	2
	Grazia Maniscalco	Independent	2
	Antonio Palmieri	The People of Freedom	2
	Claudio Sabelli Fioretti	Independent	2
	Daniela Santanchè	The People of Freedom	2
	Santo Versace	Act to Stop the Decline	2
	Others		41
Blank votes			418
Invalid votes			14

Third ballot

Candidate		Party	Votes
	Stefano Rodotà	Independent	250
	Massimo D'Alema	Democratic Party	34
	Romano Prodi	Democratic Party	22
	Giorgio Napolitano	Independent	12
	Annamaria Cancellieri	Independent	9
	Claudio Sabelli Fioretti	Independent	8
	Sergio Di Caprio	Independent	7
	Franco Marini	Democratic Party	6
	Alessandra Mussolini	The People of Freedom	5
	Antonio Palmieri	The People of Freedom	5
	Emma Bonino	Italian Radicals	4
	Sergio Chiamparino	Democratic Party	4
	Ricardo Antonio Merlo	MAIE	3
	Ilaria Borletti Buitoni	Civic Choice	3
	Gianroberto Casaleggio	Five Star Movement	3
	Fabrizio Cicchitto	The People of Freedom	3
	Gherardo Colombo	Independent	2
	Ermanno Leo	Independent	2
	Pierluigi Castagnetti	Democratic Party	2
	Roberto Di Giovan Paolo	Democratic Party	2
	Antonio Martino	The People of Freedom	2
	Nicolò Pollari	Independent	2
	Others		44
Blank votes			465
Invalid votes			47

Fourth ballot

Candidate		Party	Votes
	Romano Prodi	Democratic Party	395
	Stefano Rodotà	Independent	213
	Annamaria Cancellieri	Independent	78
	Massimo D'Alema	Democratic Party	15
	Franco Marini	Democratic Party	3
	Giorgio Napolitano	Independent	2
	Others		7
Blank votes			15
Invalid votes			4

Fifth ballot

Candidate		Party	Votes
	Stefano Rodotà	Independent	210
	Giorgio Napolitano	Independent	20
	Rosario Monteleone	Independent	15
	Emma Bonino	Italian Radicals	9
	Claudio Zin	MAIE	4
	Annamaria Cancellieri	Independent	2
	Massimo D'Alema	Democratic Party	2
	Franco Marini	Democratic Party	2
	Others		14
Blank votes			445
Invalid votes			17

Sixth ballot

Candidate		Party	Votes
	Giorgio Napolitano	Independent	738
	Stefano Rodotà	Independent	217
	Sergio Di Caprio	Independent	8
	Massimo D'Alema	Democratic Party	4
	Others		6
Blank votes			10
Invalid votes			12

Reactions

After the election results were announced, demonstrations took place outside Palazzo Montecitorio against the re-election of Napolitano. A sizable number of protesters were supporters of the Five Star Movement led by Beppe Grillo. Grillo himself condemned Napolitano's re-election, claiming this was a "coup d'état".

Pier Luigi Bersani promised to resign as leader of the PD in response to the lack of support within his coalition for Romano Prodi, the party's preference for president on the fourth ballot. Following his resignation, former trade union leader Guglielmo Epifani was elected in his place on 11 May 2013.