1955 Italian presidential election

The Italian presidential election of 1955 was held in Italy on 28–29 April 1955.

1955 Italian presidential election
28–29 April 1955
843 voters
(217 Senators, 616 Deputies
and 10 regional representatives[1])
562 or 422 votes needed to win
 
Nominee Giovanni Gronchi Luigi Einaudi
Party Christian Democracy Liberal Party
Electoral vote 658 70
Percentage 78.1% 8.3%
Result on the fourth ballot
(29 April 1955)

     Gronchi 658      Einaudi 70      Others 11

     Invalids, blanks, abstentions 104
President before election

Luigi Einaudi
PLI

 Elected President

Giovanni Gronchi
DC

Only members of Parliament and regional delegates were entitled to vote, most of these electors having been elected in the 1953 general election. As head of state of the Italian Republic, the President has a role of representation of national unity and guarantees that Italian politics comply with the Italian Constitution, in the framework of a parliamentary system.

Procedure

In accordance to the Italian Constitution, the election was held in the form of a secret ballot, with the Senators and the Deputies entitled to vote. The election was held in the Palazzo Montecitorio, home of the Chamber of Deputies, with the capacity of the building expanded for the purpose. The first three ballots required a two-thirds majority of the 843 voters in order to elect a president, or 562 votes. Starting from the fourth ballot, an absolute majority was required for candidates to be elected, or 422 votes. The presidential mandate lasts seven years.

The election was presided over by the President of the Chamber of Deputies Giovanni Gronchi, who proceeded to the public counting of the votes, and by the President of the Senate Cesare Merzagora.

Chronology

On 28 April 1955 the Italian Parliament convened to elect the new President of the Republic, since President Luigi Einaudi's term was about to end. After the death of Alcide De Gasperi, the new leader of Christian Democracy party Amintore Fanfani decided to endorse the candidacy of the incumbent President of the Senate Cesare Merzagora, but failed to control his own party's representatives, who on the first ballot succeeded in making Merzagora's candidacy sink.

On the first round left-wing parties decided to sustain the actionist Ferruccio Parri, while liberals and monarchists decided to vote for the outgoing President Luigi Einaudi.

After Merzagora's candidacy failed to gain a large majority, Fanfani decided to endorse the incumbent President of the Chamber of Deputies Giovanni Gronchi. As a member of the leftist faction of the Christian Democracy, Gronchi was able to gain the support of left-wing parties. On 29 April 1955 on the fourth round vote, Gronchi was elected the new President of Italian Republic by a large margin.

Results
Deputy Giorgio Almirante casts his vote on 28 April 1955
Candidate First ound
28 April 1955		 Second round
28 April 1955		 Third round
29 April 1955		 Fourth round
29 April 1955
Ferruccio Parri308–––
Cesare Merzagora228225245–
Luigi Einaudi120806170
Giovanni Gronchi30127281658
Antonio Segni121814–
Raffaele De Caro––14–
Other candidates2324711
Blank papers8933219592
Invalid papers5222
Abstentions28352610
Total843843843843
Source: Presidency of the Republic

Inauguration

Giovanni Gronchi officially sworn in as the new President of Italy on 11 May 1955.

  • The moment in which Gronchi was proclaimed elected
  • Gronchi during his inaugural address on 11 May 1955
  • Gronchi and Einaudi during the swearing in ceremony at the Quirinal Palace

References
  1. Delegates from the five autonomous regions of Italy: Sicily, Sardinia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Aosta Valley and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
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