# Politics of Basilicata

The politics of Basilicata operates within 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 (Giunta Regionale) is presided by the President of the Region (Presidente della Regione), who is elected for a five-year term, and is composed by the President and the Ministers (Assessori), who are currently 6, including a vice president.

### List of presidents
#### Elected by the Regional Council (1970–1995)

| № | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Legislature |
| 1 | Vincenzo Verrastro | 1970 | 1975 | DC | I (1970) |
| 1 | Vincenzo Verrastro | 1975 | 1980 | DC | II (1975) |
| 1 | Vincenzo Verrastro | 1980 | 1982 | DC | III (1980) |
| 2 | Carmelo Azzarà | 1982 | 1985 | DC | III (1980) |
| 3 | Gaetano Michetti | 1985 | 1990 | DC | IV (1985) |
| 4 | Antonio Boccia | 1990 | 1995 | DC | V (1990) |

#### Directly-elected presidents (since 1995)

| N. | President | Term of office | Term of office | Tenure (Years and days) | Party | Composition | Legislature |
| 5 | Angelo Raffaele Dinardo (1932–2015) | 15 June 1995 | 13 May 2000 | 4 years, 333 days | Italian People's Party | PDS–PPI–FL–PdD–FdV | VI (1995) |
| 6 | Filippo Bubbico (1954– ) | 13 May 2000 | 6 May 2005 | 4 years, 358 days | Democrats of the Left | DS–PPI–Dem–UDEUR–SDI– FdV–PRC–RI–PdCI | VII (2000) |
| 7 | Vito De Filippo (1963– ) | 6 May 2005 | 21 April 2010 | 8 years, 226 days | The Daisy/ Democratic Party | Ulivo–UDEUR–FdV– PRC–PdCI–IdV | VIII (2005) |
| 7 | Vito De Filippo (1963– ) | 21 April 2010 | 18 December 2013 | 8 years, 226 days | The Daisy/ Democratic Party | PD–IdV–UDC–PU– PSI–ApI–SEL | IX (2010) |
| 8 | Marcello Pittella (1962– ) | 18 December 2013 | 24 January 2019 | 5 years, 37 days | Democratic Party | PD–PSI–RI–CD | X (2013) |
| 9 | Vito Bardi (1951– ) | 16 April 2019 | Incumbent | 5 years, 225 days | Forza Italia | Lega–FI–FdI–IdeA | XI (2019) |
| 9 | Vito Bardi (1951– ) | Re-elected | Re-elected | 5 years, 225 days | Forza Italia | FdI–FI–Az–Lega | XII (2024) |
* ↑ Resigned on 24 April 2013 after a corruption scandal. Remained in office as acting President till a new regional election was called.

## Legislative branch

The Regional Council of Basilicata (Consiglio Regionale della Basilicata) is composed of 30 members. 24 councillors are elected in provincial constituencies by proportional representation using the largest remainder method with a Droop quota and open lists, while 6 councillors (elected in bloc) come from a "regional list", including the President-elect. One seat is reserved for the candidate who comes second. If a coalition wins more than 50% of the total seats in the council with PR, only 3 candidates from the regional list will be chosen and the number of those elected in provincial constituencies will be 26. If the winning coalition receives less than 40% of votes special seats are added to the council to ensure a large majority for the President's 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, simul cadent clause introduced in 1999 (literally they will stand together or they will fall together), also the council is dissolved and a snap election is called.

## Local government
### Provinces

| Province | Inhabitants | President | President | Party | Election |
| Matera | 198,190 | | Pietro Marrese | Democratic Party | 2018 |
| Potenza | 365,304 | | Rocco Guarino | Civic list | 2018 |

### Municipalities
#### Provincial capitals

| Municipality | Inhabitants | Mayor | Mayor | Party | Election |
| Matera | 60,459 | | Domenico Bennardi | Five Star Movement | 2020 |
| Potenza | 66,809 | | Mario Guarente | League | 2019 |

## Parties and elections
### Latest regional election

In the latest regional election, which took place on 21-22 April 2024, incumbent president Vito Bardi of Forza Italia was re-elected at the head of a centre-right coalition, enlarged to Action and Italia Viva (within Lucanian Pride). Brothers of Italy was the largest party.
21–22 April 2024 Basilicata regional election results :
| Results by party Results by coalition ||||||||||
| Candidates | Candidates | Votes | % | Seats | Parties | Parties | Votes | % | Seats |
| | Vito Bardi | 153,088 | 56.63 | 1 | | Brothers of Italy | 45,458 | 17.39 | 4 |
| | Vito Bardi | 153,088 | 56.63 | 1 | | Forza Italia | 34,018 | 13.01 | 3 |
| | Vito Bardi | 153,088 | 56.63 | 1 | | League | 20,430 | 7.81 | 2 |
| | Vito Bardi | 153,088 | 56.63 | 1 | | Action | 19,646 | 7.51 | 2 |
| | Vito Bardi | 153,088 | 56.63 | 1 | | Lucanian Pride (incl. IV) | 18,371 | 7.03 | 1 |
| | Vito Bardi | 153,088 | 56.63 | 1 | | Union of the Centre–DC–PU | 6,636 | 2.54 | – |
| | Vito Bardi | 153,088 | 56.63 | 1 | | True Basilicata | 5,822 | 2.23 | – |
| | Vito Bardi | 153,088 | 56.63 | 1 | Total | Total | 150,381 | 57.52 | 12 |
| | Piero Marrese | 113,979 | 42.16 | 1 | | Democratic Party | 36,254 | 13.87 | 2 |
| | Piero Marrese | 113,979 | 42.16 | 1 | | Common House Basilicata | 29,228 | 11.88 | 2 |
| | Piero Marrese | 113,979 | 42.16 | 1 | | Five Star Movement | 20,026 | 7.66 | 2 |
| | Piero Marrese | 113,979 | 42.16 | 1 | | Greens and Left Alliance–PSI–Possible Basilicata | 15,144 | 5.79 | 1 |
| | Piero Marrese | 113,979 | 42.16 | 1 | | United Basilicata | 7,483 | 2.87 | – |
| | Piero Marrese | 113,979 | 42.16 | 1 | Total | Total | 108,135 | 41.36 | 7 |
| | Eustachio Follia | 3,269 | 1.21 | – | | Volt Italy | 2,947 | 1.13 | – |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 18,197 | – | | | | | | |
| Total candidates | Total candidates | 270,336 | 100.00 | 2 | Total parties | Total parties | 261,463 | 100.00 | 19 |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 567,939 | 49.81 | | | | | | |
| Source: Ministry of the Interior – Results ||||||||||