List of mayors of Bolzano

Mayor of Bolzano
Sindaco di Bolzano
Bürgermeister von Bozen
since 23 May 2016
AppointerPopular election
Term length5 years
WebsiteOfficial website
Bolzano's City Hall

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 Renzo Caramaschi, elected in May 2016.[1]

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

Further information (in it:sindaci di bolzano): Mayors of Bolzano [it:Sindaci di Bolzano]
Further information (in de:liste der bürgermeister von bozen): Mayors of Bozen [de:Liste der Bürgermeister von Bozen]

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.[2]

  Mayor Term start Term end Party
1 Lino Ziller 27 July 1948 13 July 1957 DC
2 Giorgio Pasquali 13 July 1957 19 June 1968 DC
3 Giancarlo Bolognini 2 July 1968 26 August 1983 DC
4 Luigi de Guelmi 26 August 1983 1 October 1985 DC
5 Marcello Ferrari 1 October 1985 30 August 1988 DC
Special Prefectural Commissioner tenure (30 August 1988 – 4 August 1989)
6 Valentino Pasqualin 4 August 1989 3 November 1989[a] DC
(5) Marcello Ferrari 21 November 1989 19 July 1995 DC
Notes
  1. ^ Died in office.

Direct election (since 1995)

Since 1995, under provisions of new local administration law, the mayor of Bolzano is chosen by direct election.[2]


Mayor Took office Left office Party Coalition Election
7 Giovanni Salghetti Drioli
(b. 1941) 		19 July 1995 27 June 2000 Ind PDS • PdD • SVP • PPI 1995
27 June 2000 23 May 2005 DS • SDI • SVP • VGV 2000
8 Giovanni Benussi
(b. 1948) 		23 May 2005 22 June 2005[a] Ind AN • FI • LN 2005
Special Prefectural Commissioner tenure (23 June 2005 – 11 November 2005)
9 Luigi Spagnolli
(b. 1960) 		11 November 2005 19 May 2010 DL
PD 		SVP • DS • DL • SDI •
VGV • PRC 		2005
(special)
19 May 2010 26 May 2015 SVP • PD • IdV • SEL •
VGV • PRC 		2010
26 May 2015 24 September 2015[b] SVP • PD
and leftist lists 		2015
Special Prefectural Commissioner tenure (25 September 2015 – 23 May 2016)
10 Renzo Caramaschi
(b. 1946) 		23 May 2016 4 October 2020 Ind[c] SVP • PD • VGV
and leftist lists 		2016
(special)
4 October 2020[d] Incumbent SVP • PD • VGV
and leftist lists 		2020
Notes
  1. ^ Benussi won the mayoral election only by 7 votes (50.01% of the popular vote). He later decayed after the City Council didn't approve his executive cabinet.
  2. ^ Resigned after losing the majority in the City Council.
  3. ^ Close to the Democratic Party (PD).
  4. ^ Election originally scheduled for May 2020 then postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bolzano: Renzo Caramaschi eletto sindaco di Bolzano". Askanews.it. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b "I borgomastri/sindaci di Bolzano dal 1449 fino ad oggi". Retrieved 30 October 2018.

Bibliography

  • Hannes Obermair (2008). Bozen Süd—Bolzano Nord. Schriftlichkeit und urkundliche Überlieferung der Stadt Bozen bis 1500—Scritturalità e documentazione archivistica della città di Bolzano fino al 1500. Vol. 2. Bolzano: Città di Bolzano. ISBN 978-88-901870-1-8.