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2011 Bologna municipal election

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2011 Bologna municipal election

← 2009 15–16 May 2011 2016 →
 
Candidate Virginio Merola Manes Bernardini
Party Democratic Party Northern League
Alliance Centre-left Centre-right
Popular vote 106,070 63,799
Percentage 50.47% 30.35%

Composition of the Bologna City Council

Mayor before election

Flavio Delbono
Democratic Party

Elected mayor

Virginio Merola
Democratic Party

Municipal elections were held in Bologna on 15 and 16 May 2011. The centre-left candidate Virginio Merola was elected mayor at the first round with 50.47% of votes.[1] The turnout was just 71%, a decrease compared to 2009 and 2004 elections.

Background

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The election took place before the end of the legislature because the incumbent mayor Flavio Delbono, who was under investigation after the Cinziagate scandal. Delbono was forced to announce his resignation as mayor on 25 January 2010 following the revelation that he was being investigated for crimes such as embezzlement, fraud and aggravated abuse of office.[2] The investigation followed Delbono's former assistant's claim that he had spent public money on her— the pair had been having an affair.[2] Investigators subsequently questioned Delbono about the purchase of a property near St. Julian's, Malta.[3] Delbono denied all the allegations made against him and said that resigning as mayor was the right thing to do.[2][3] He has announced that he will return to lecturing and is working to clear his name.[3] His resignation was confirmed on 28 January following the approval of an emergency budget, the election to appoint Delbono's successor must take place by 28 March 2010.[4]

For 15 months, Bologna was governed under a special commissioner, Anna Maria Cancellieri, an exceptional event in post-war Italian politics.

Voting system

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The voting system is used for all mayoral elections in Italy, in the city with a population higher than 15,000 inhabitants. Under this system voters express a direct choice for the mayor or an indirect choice voting for the party of the candidate's coalition. If no candidate receives 50% of votes, the top two candidates go to a second round after two weeks. This gives a result whereby the winning candidate may be able to claim majority support, although it is not guaranteed.

The election of the City Council is based on a direct choice for the candidate with a preference vote: the candidate with the majority of the preferences is elected. The number of the seats for each party is determined proportionally.

Parties and leaders

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Political force or alliance Constituent lists Leader
Centre-left coalition Democratic Party Virginio Merola
With Amelia for Bologna
Italy of Values
Federation of the Left
Italian Socialist Party
Five Star Movement Five Star Movement Massimo Bugani
Stefano Aldrovandi Mayor Stefano Aldrovandi Mayor (incl. UDC and FLI) Stefano Aldrovandi
Bologna Capital Bologna Capital Daniele Corticelli
The Populars of Italy Tomorrow
Italian Republican Party
Acting Together Civically
Centre-right coalition The People of Freedom Manes Bernardini
Northern League

Results

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Summary of the 2011 Bologna City Council election results
Candidates Votes % Leaders
seats
Parties Votes % Seats
Virginio Merola 106,070 50.47 Democratic Party 72,335 38.28 17
With Amelia for Bologna 19,358 10.24 4
Italy of Values 6,983 3.70 1
Federation of the Left 2,766 1.46
Lay Socialists Reformists 1,118 0.59
Manes Bernardini 63,799 30.35 1 The People of Freedom 31,374 16.60 6
Northern League 20,268 10.72 3
Massimo Bugani 19,969 9.50 1 Five Star Movement 17,778 9.41 2
Stefano Aldrovandi 10,679 5.08 1 Stefano Aldrovandi for Mayor 8,961 4.74
Daniele Corticelli 6,442 3.06 Bologna Capital 4,546 2.41
The Populars of Italy Tomorrow 328 0.17
Italian Republican Party 251 0.13
Acting Together Civically 201 0.11
Michele Terra 1,601 0.76 Workers' Communist Party 1,125 0.60
Elisabetta Avanzi 654 0.31 New Force 603 0.32
Anna Montella 580 0.28 The Right 602 0.32
Angelo Maria Carcano 391 0.19 Neptune List 387 0.20
Total 210,185 100.00 3 188,984 100.00 33
Source: Ministry of the Interior
Popular vote
PD
38.28%
PdL
16.60%
LN
10.72%
SEL
10.24%
M5S
9.41%
SAS
4.74%
IdV
3.70%
BC
2.41%
Others
3.90%
Mayor
Merola
50.47%
Bernardini
30.35%
Bugani
9.50%
Aldrovandi
5.08%
Corticelli
3.06%
Others
1.54%

References

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  1. ^ "Bologna - Elezioni Comunali 15-16 maggio 2011 - la Repubblica.it". www.repubblica.it. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  2. ^ a b c "The centre-left cannot hold: Italy's troubled left". The Economist. Vol. 394, no. 8667. 30 January 2010. p. 47. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Karl Stagno-Navarra (31 January 2010). "Bologna mayor Delbono under investigation on Malta property". Malta Today. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  4. ^ Michele Smargiassi (29 January 2010). "Delbono, dimissioni dopo il bilancio Bologna al voto il 28 marzo" (in Italian). la Repubblica. Retrieved 2 February 2010.