The mayor of Bolzano is an elected politician who, along with the Bolzano's city council, is accountable for the strategic government of Bolzano in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy, the capital city of South Tyrol.
The current mayor is Claudio Corrarati, elected in May 2025.
Overview According to the Italian Constitution, the mayor of Bolzano is member of the city council.
The mayor is elected by the population of Bolzano, who also elects the members of the city council, controlling the mayor's policy guidelines and is able to enforce his resignation by a motion of no confidence. The mayor is entitled to appoint and release the members of his government.
Since 1995 the mayor is elected directly by Bolzano's electorate: in all mayoral elections in Italy in cities with a population higher than 15,000 the 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 at least 50% of votes, the top two candidates go to a second round after two weeks. 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.
1449–1948
From 1449 onwards, when the earliest mayor, named Hans Trott, is recorded, the first citizen of Bolzano was called Bürgermeister. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I and the annexation of the Southern Tyrol by Italy in 1919–20, the burgomasters became sindaco (mayor).
From 1895 up to 1922, when Fascist squadrons occupied the town hall, the democratically elected Julius Perathoner was mayor, modernizing the city by sustaining a widespread urban renewal.
Republic of Italy (since 1948) City Council election (1948–1995) From 1948 to 1995, the mayor of Bolzano was elected by the city council.
Mayor Term start Term end Party 1Lino Ziller27 July 194813 July 1957DC 2Giorgio Pasquali13 July 195719 June 1968DC 3Giancarlo Bolognini2 July 196826 August 1983DC 4Luigi de Guelmi26 August 19831 October 1985DC 5Marcello Ferrari1 October 198530 August 1988DCSpecial Prefectural Commissioner tenure (30 August 1988 – 4 August 1989) 6Valentino Pasqualin4 August 19893 November 1989DC (5)Marcello Ferrari21 November 198919 July 1995DC Notes
Direct election (since 1995) Since 1995, under provisions of new local administration law, the mayor of Bolzano is chosen by direct election.
Mayor Took office Left office Party Coalition Election 7Giovanni Salghetti Drioli(b. 1941) 19 July 1995 27 June 2000Ind PDSPdDSVPPPI 1995 27 June 2000 23 May 2005 DSSDISVPVGV 2000 8 Giovanni Benussi(b. 1948) 23 May 2005 22 June 2005 Ind ANFILN 2005Special Prefectural Commissioner tenure (23 June 2005 – 11 November 2005) Luigi Spagnolli(b. 1960) 11 November 2005 19 May 2010 DLPD SVPDSDLSDIVGVPRC 2005(special) 19 May 2010 26 May 2015 SVPPDIdVSELVGVPRC 2010 26 May 2015 24 September 2015 SVPPDand leftist lists 2015Special Prefectural Commissioner tenure (25 September 2015 – 23 May 2016) 10Renzo Caramaschi(b. 1946) 23 May 2016 4 October 2020 Ind SVPPDVGVand leftist lists 2016(special) 4 October 2020 19 May 2025 SVPPDVGVand leftist lists 2020 11 Claudio Corrarati(b. 1967) 19 May 2025 Incumbent Ind FdIFILega 2025 Notes
See also Timeline of Bolzano
References
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