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 branch

The Regional Government is presided by the President of the Region, who is elected for a five-year term, and is composed by the President and the Ministers, who are currently ten.

List of Presidents

Legislative branch

The Regional Council of Apulia is composed of 70 members and is elected with proportional representation plus a majority premium for the winning coalition. 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 clause, also the Council will be dissolved and there will be a fresh election.

Local government

Provinces and Metropolitan City

Apulia is divided into five provinces and one metropolitan city:

Municipalities

Apulia is also divided into 258 comuni, which have even more history, having been established in the Middle Ages when they were the main places of government. There are eight provincial capital cities in Apulia, as the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani is the only province in Italy with three capital cities.
There are 258 communes in Apulia :

Other municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants

Parties and elections

Latest regional election

In the latest regional election, which took place on 31 May 2015, Michele Emiliano of the Democratic Party was elected president by a landslide over a fragmented set of opponents. The Democrats were narrowly the largest party with 19.8% of the vote, but two lists named after Emiliano got an additional combined 14.0%.