The 2023 Democratic Party leadership election was a primary election that was held in Italy in February 2023 to elect the National Assembly and secretary of the Italian Democratic Party (PD). It consisted of a closed primary election among party members held from 9 to 19 February, and an open primary election held on 26 February.
Four candidates ran in the closed primary election held in circle conventions: Stefano Bonaccini, Gianni Cuperlo, Paola De Micheli, and Elly Schlein. Bonaccini and Schlein advanced to the open primary election, where Schlein won with over 53% of the vote, becoming the first woman and the youngest person to ever serve as leader of the PD, as well as the first openly LGBT leader of a major Italian political party. The results of the election defied the predictions of nearly all polling firms, which had anticipated a Bonaccini victory. It was the PD's first party leadership election in which the winner of the members' vote lost in the open primary.
Electoral process The process consists of two phases: a first round, in which only members of the PD can vote, and a second round, a runoff between the two candidates who got the most votes in the first round, in which every citizen who identifies with the party's ideals can vote. The PD is the only major Italian party that allows non-members to elect the secretary by open primary.
The term of office of the secretary is usually four years, along with the National Assembly; when the former resign in advance, the National Assembly can choose whether to elect another secretary, who would serve until the natural expiration of the mandate is reached, or to dissolve the National Assembly itself earlier and call a new leadership election.
After the outgoing secretary tenders their resignation, the party president must gather the members of the National Assembly within a month. On the same day, the National Assembly would elect the members of the National Committee for the Congress, which would act in place of the elected bodies until the end of the leadership election, whose main job is drafting the rules of the details procedure under which the leadership election is to take place. The National Committee also handles internal disputes and appeals relating to the leadership election.
The National Committee elects its president and sets the rules and the dates, and lay them before the National Board. The election must take place within four months following the secretary's resignation.
Timetable + Timetable of events for the 2023 Democratic Party leadership election Date(s) Event The National Board elects the National Committee and the Commission for the Congress. Start of the primaries. The National Assembly approves the Manifesto of Values and Principles. Presentation of the candidacies supported by at least the 20% of the members of the National Assembly or by 4,000 members. Enrollment on the local branch for new members closed. Closed primaries take place in Circle Conventions. Open primaries to elect the Secretary and the National Assembly. The National Assembly announces the winner.
Candidates Candidates who progressed to the final round On 20 February 2023, the following individuals were the two top contenders in the closed vote in party circles, thus entering the primary open to voters. Portrait Name Most recent position Campaign logo Slogan Announced Refs Stefano Bonaccini(age ) President of Emilia-Romagna(2014–2024) (stefanobonaccini.it) Energia Popolare(People's Energy) 20 November 2022 Elly Schlein(age ) Vice President of Emilia-Romagna(2020–2022) (ellyschlein.it) Parte da Noi(It Starts with Us) 4 December 2022
Before vote by party members On 20 February 2023, the following individuals didn't manage to get enough votes in party circles to enter the primary open to voters. Portrait Name Most recent position Campaign logo Slogan Announced Refs Gianni Cuperlo(age ) President of the Democratic Party(2013–2014) (giannicuperlo.it) Promessa Democratica(Democratic Promise) 23 December 2022 Paola De Micheli(age ) Minister of Infrastructure and Transport(2019–2021) (paolademicheli.it) Concretamente(Concretely) 27 September 2022
Declined to be candidates The following individuals have been the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy, but have publicly denied interest in running. Enrico Letta, Member of the Chamber of Deputies (2021–present, 2001–2015), Secretary of the Democratic Party (2021–present), Prime Minister of Italy (2013–2014), Deputy secretary of the Democratic Party (2009–2013), Secretary of the Council of Ministers (2006–2008), Member of the European Parliament (2004–2006), Minister for the Community Policies (1998–1999), Deputy secretary of the Italian People's Party (1997–1998), Minister of Industry, Commerce and Crafts (1996–1998)
Endorsements Candidates who progressed to the final round Stefano Bonaccini
Elly Schlein
Before vote by party members Gianni Cuperlo
Paola De Micheli
Electoral debates 2023 Democratic Party leadership election debatesDateOrganiserModerator Present Invitee Non-invitee Absent invitee BonacciniCuperloDe MicheliSchlein22 JanuaryRai 3(Mezz'ora in più)Lucia AnnunziataPPPP20 FebruarySky TG24(Il Confronto)Fabio VitalePNINIP
Opinion polls Advanced candidates Date Polling firm Sample size Don't know Lead Bonaccini Schlein Primary election 46.2 53.8 — 7.623 FebBiDiMediaBetween interested voters 38.031.031.0 7.022 FebEuromedia StatBetween interested voters 48.213.538.3 29.322 FebEuromedia StatBetween PD voters 55.121.223.733.920–22 FebDemos & PiBetween interested voters 57.030.013.027.0Between PD voters 67.031.02.036.021 FebIziBetween interested voters 54.245.88.4
Before vote by party members Date Polling firm Sample size Others – Don't know Lead Bonaccini Cuperlo De Micheli Schlein19 FebBonaccini and Schlein advance to open primary electionDe Micheli endorsed Bonaccini, Cuperlo leaves freedom of choice15 FebEMGBetween PD voters 63.0–67.033.0–37.00.0Don't know 0.0 30.013 FebIntwigBetween PD voters 61.039.00.0Don't know 0.0 22.011–12 FebWinpollBetween PD voters 43.7 56.30.0Don't know 0.0 12.625 JanEuromediaBetween PD voters 54.06.37.818.112.8Don't know 0.0 35.923 JanEMGBetween PD voters 44.07.09.024.02.0Don't know 14.0 20.0 17 Jan Winpoll Between PD voters 46.07.06.041.00.0Don't know 0.0 5.0 51.548.50.0Don't know 0.0 3.016 JanEMGBetween PD voters 41.09.010.023.03.0Don't know 14.0 18.09–13 JanEMGBetween PD voters 61.0–65.035.0–39.00.0Don't know 0.0 26.09 JanEMGBetween PD voters 41.06.010.024.06.0Don't know 13.0 17.02 JanEMGBetween PD voters 43.07.09.023.010.0Don't know 8.0 20.0
Hypothetical polls Date Polling firm Sample size Others – Don't know Lead Boccia Bonaccini Cuperlo De Luca De Micheli Nardella Provenzano Ricci Schlein23 DecGianni Cuperlo announces his intention to run19 DecEMGBetween interested voters 45.09.025.06.0Don't know 15.0 20.08–12 DecBiDiMediaBetween interested voters 57.02.02.039.020.0Don't know 20.0 18.07 DecEMGBetween PD voters 65.0–69.031.0–35.00.0Don't know 0.0 34.04 DecElly Schlein announces her intention to run29 NovEMGBetween PD voters 32.011.015.02.04.017.012.0Don't know 12.0 15.029 NovEuromediaBetween PD voters4.5 25.95.93.32.51.50.621.434.3Don't know 34.3 4.521 NovDemos & PiBetween PD voters 32.08.025.0Don't know 35.0 24.020 NovStefano Bonaccini announces his intention to run19 NovEuromediaBetween PD voters4.5 25.95.93.32.51.50.621.434.3Don't know 34.3 4.5 30 Oct Euromedia8006.4 16.94.73.11.61.412.054.5Tinagli: 2.1Others 4.7Don't know 47.7 4.9Between PD voters4.622.95.71.01.40.5 26.137.9Tinagli: 2.1Others 1.3Don't know 34.5 3.227 SepPaola De Micheli announces her intention to run
Results Vote by party members Candidate Votes %Stefano Bonaccini 79,787 52.87 Elly Schlein 52,637 34.88 Gianni Cuperlo 12,008 7.96 Paola De Micheli 6,475 4.29 Total valid votes 150,907 100.0Invalid/blank votes 623 – Total votes 151,530 100.0Source: Partito Democratico – Results
Primary election Candidate Votes % Delegates Elly Schlein 587,010 53.75 333 Stefano Bonaccini505,03246.25267 Total valid votes 1,092,042 100.0Invalid/blank votes 6,581 – Total votes 1,098,623 100.0 –Source: Partito Democratico — results
Results by regions Region Bonaccini Schlein Abruzzo 50.3 49.7 Aosta Valley 29.3 70.7 Apulia 55.944.1 Basilicata 61.538.5 Calabria 64.535.5 Campania 68.531.5 Emilia-Romagna 56.4 43.6 Friuli-Venezia Giulia 36.1 63.9 Lazio 37.4 62.6 Liguria 32.7 67.3 Lombardy 34.9 65.1 Marche 45.4 54.6 Molise 69.4 30.6 Piedmont 33.8 66.2 Sardinia 57.1 42.9 Sicily 43.2 56.8 Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol 36.5 63.5 Tuscany 38.1 61.9 Umbria 47.9 52.1 Veneto 36.3 63.7 World 44.0 56.0Source: Partito Democratico — results
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