The politics of Marche, a region of Italy, takes place in the framework of an "anomalous presidential" representative democracy or prime-ministerial system with an executive presidency, whereby the President of the Region is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in the Regional Council, while executive power is exercised by the Regional Government led by the President, who is directly elected by the people. The current Statute, which regulates the functioning of the regional institutions, has been in force since 2004.
Prior to the rise of Fascism, most of the deputies elected in Marche were part of the liberal establishment (see Historical Right, Historical Left and Liberals), which governed Italy for decades. The region, especially its northern part (largely inhabited by Romagnoli), was also a stronghold of the Italian Republican Party. In the 1919 general election Marche was one of the regions in which the Italian People's Party, while in the 1924 general election the National Fascist Party took more than 60%.Piergiorgio Corbetta; Maria Serena Piretti, Atlante storico-elettorale d'Italia, Zanichelli, Bologna 2009
After World War II Marche was an early stronghold of Christian Democracy and later one of the few regions where the Christian Democrats and the Italian Communist Party were close in terms of the popular vote. However, from 1970 to 1995 the Italian Socialist Party teamed up with the Christian Democrats and long held the presidency, leaving the Communists out of the regional government. Since 1995 the region has been a stronghold of the post-Communist parties, from the Democratic Party of the Left to the present-day Democratic Party, and became part of the so-called "Red belt", along with Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Umbria.
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 cannot be more than ten, including a vice president.
List of presidents
Legislative branch
The Regional Legislative Assembly of Marche (Assemblea Legislativa Regionale delle Marche) is composed of 40 members. 32 councillors are elected in provincial constituencies by proportional representation using the largest remainder method with a Droop quota and open lists, while 8 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 4 candidates from the regional list will be chosen and the number of those elected in provincial constituencies will be 36. 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.La Repubblica – Regional electoral law
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.
Current composition
Local government Provinces Province Inhabitants President Party Election Ancona (list) 482,886 Daniele CarnevaliPSI2021 Pesaro and Urbino (list) 364,896 Alberto AlessandriInd. (centre-right)2026 Macerata (list) 324,188 Alessandro GentilucciFdI2026 Ascoli Piceno (list) 214,014 Fabio SalviInd. (centre-right)2026 Fermo (list) 177,993 Michele OrtenziInd. (centre-right)2021
Municipalities
Provincial capitals Municipality Inhabitants Mayor Party Election Ancona 102,500 Daniele SilvettiForza Italia2023 Ascoli Piceno 51,168 Marco FioravantiBrothers of Italy2019 Fermo 37,869 Paolo CalcinaroCivic list2020 Macerata 43,000 Sandro ParcaroliLega Nord2020 Pesaro 98,438 Andrea BiancaniDemocratic Party2024
Other municipalities Municipality Inhabitants Mayor Party Election Fano 63,922 Luca SerfilippiLega2024 San Benedetto del Tronto 48,036 Antonio SpazzafumoCivic list2021 Senigallia 44,673 Massimo OlivettiIndependent (centre-right)2020 Jesi 40,502 Lorenzo FiordelmondoDemocratic Party2022 Civitanova Marche 40,400 Fabrizio CiarapicaForza Italia2017 Urbino 15,501 Maurizio GambiniIndependent (centre-right)2014
Parties and elections
Latest regional election
In the latest regional election, which took place on 28–29 September 2025, incumbent president Francesco Acquaroli of the Brothers of Italy (FdI) was re-elected by beating Matteo Ricci of the Democratic Party (PD). FdI was the largest party, followed by the PD, Forza Italia and Lega Marche, the latter two part of the centre-right coalition led by FdI.
Notes
References
External links Marche Region Regional Council of Marche Constitution of Marche