The candidate who obtains a plurality of the votes is elected President of Sardinia. If the elected candidate obtains at least 25% of the votes, the majority of the seats on the board are guaranteed on the lists who support them.[2] The law provides for a single round, with a list vote, the possibility of expressing a preference within the chosen list, and voting for the presidential candidate, on a single card. It is possible to vote for a list and for a candidate who is not connected to each other (Article 9). The candidate who has obtained the relative majority is elected president (Article 1, paragraph 4). To the lists connected to the president-elect, a majority prize may be awarded in the following measure: 60% of the seats if the president-elect obtained a percentage of preference above 40%; 55% of the seats if the elected president has obtained a percentage of preferences between 25% and 40%, while no majority prize is awarded if the president is elected with less than 25% (Article 13). The law provides for a 10% threshold for coalitions, and 5% for non-coalitized lists (Article 1, paragraph 7). No barriers are foreseen for the lists within the coalitions that have exceeded 10%.[3]
The centre-right coalition has faced internal divisions as well, with the incumbent President Christian Solinas seeking re-election with the support of the Sardinian Action Party and Lega but not that of Brothers of Italy, whose regional coordinator has been urging for a change of direction.[11] During a meeting on 4 January a majority of the coalition members opted for Paolo Truzzu (FdI), incumbent mayor of Cagliari, as candidate for the presidency resulting in Solinas and the parties supporting his bid considering to break away from the coalition.[12]
Coalition talks to reach a deal over a unitary candidacy went on unsuccessfully for a couple of weeks, but the sudden news of Solinas being under investigation for corruption decreased significantly his chances of being a feasible candidate.[13] That, together with the other coalition partner's will to compromise with Lega on other regional candidacies and on the introduction of a third mandate for regional governors, finally led the party to announcing its support to Truzzu's candidacy on 19 January.[14] Shortly after Lega's announcement Solinas officially whitdrew from the race, with PSd'Az choosing to endorse Truzzu.[15]
The fourth candidate to join the race was Lucia Chessa, leader of the regionalist party Rossomori.[16] Interest in running for the presidency was expressed also by Maria Rosaria Randaccio, with the support of the two eurosceptic and anti-system movements Force of the People and Sardinia Free Zone,[17] but her bid was rejected by the electoral authority due to failing to gather the necessary signatures to take part in the race.[18]
1.4%)
