Politics of Marche

Marche
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The Politics of Marche, Italy takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democracy, whereby the President of the Region is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in the Regional Council, while executive power is exercised by the Regional Government led by the President, who is directly elected by the people. The current Statute, which regulates the functioning of the regional institutions, has been in force since 2004.

Prior to the rise of Fascism, most of the deputies elected in Marche were part of the liberal establishment (see Historical Right, Historical Left and Liberals), which governed Italy for decades. The region, especially its northern part (largerly inhabited by Romagnoli), was also a stronghold of the Italian Republican Party. Marche was one of the regions in which the Italian People's Party did better in the 1919 general election and the National Fascist Party took more than 60% in the 1924 general election.^[1]

After World War II Marche was an early stronghold of Christian Democracy and later one of the few regions where the Christian Democrats and the Italian Communist Party were close in terms of popular vote. Since 1995 the region has been a stronghold of the post-Communist parties, from the Democratic Party of the Left to the present-day Democratic Party.

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 cannot be more than ten, including a Vice President.^[2]

List of Presidents

Legislative branch

The Regional Council of Marche (Consiglio Regionale della Marche) is composed of 40 members. 32 councillors are elected in provincial constituencies by proportional representation using the largest remainder method with a Droop quota and open lists, while 8 councillors (elected in bloc) come from a "regional list", including the President-elect. One seat is reserved for the candidate who comes second. If a coalition wins more than 50% of the total seats in the Council with PR, only 4 candidates from the regional list will be chosen and the number of those elected in provincial constituencies will be 36. If the winning coalition receives less than 40% of votes special seats are added to the Council to ensure a large majority for the President's coalition.^[3]

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, simul cadent clause introduced in 1999 (literally they will stand together or they will fall together), also the Council is dissolved and a snap election is called.^[4]

Local government

Provinces

Marche is divided in five provinces, which were first established in 1861. The centre-left Democratic Party governs four provinces out of five, including Macerata, whose president is a member of the Union of the Centre, and Fermo, whose president is a member of Left Ecology Freedom, a left-wing outfit.

Municipalities

Marche is also divided in 239 comuni (municipalities), which have even more history, having been established in the Middle Ages, when they were the main places of government. The centre-left Democratic Party is widely the strongest party in local government, having the majority of mayors throughout the region.

Parties and elections

Latest regional election

In the latest regional election, which took place on 31 May 2015, Luca Ceriscioli of the Democratic Party (PD) was elected President by defeating a fractured field of opponents, notably including the incumbent President, Gian Mario Spacca, who had switched sides from the PD to a centre-right coalition led by Forza Italia.

Source: Marche Region

References

External links

• Marche Region
• Regional Council of Marche
• Constitution of Marche

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