The Apulian regional election of 2005 took place on 3–4 April 2005.
Nichi Vendola (Communist Refoundation Party) defeated incumbent Raffaele Fitto (Forza Italia). The success of Vendola came somewhat unexpected. In a Southern Italian Region, expected to be morally conservative, Vendola, a communist and homosexual, defeated Fitto, a conservative Christian democrat. Vendola was the first candidate ever to be appointed by its coalition through a primary election instead of agreements between parties. A defeat of Vendola might have resulted in a cancellation of the primary election of The Union for choosing the candidate for Prime Minister in the 2006 general election.
Centre-left primary election The centre-left candidate was chosen through primary elections, which were won by surprise by Nichi Vendola.Puglia, primarie con sorpresa Nichi Vendola batte Boccia
Candidate Party Votes % Nichi Vendola PRC40,35850.9 Francesco Boccia DL38,676 49.1Total79,034100.0
Results + Candidates Votes % Seats Parties Votes % Seats Nichi Vendola1,165,53649.841 Democrats of the Left356,36916.6314 Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy 208,8069.748 Communist Refoundation Party109,1465.094 Italian Democratic Socialists86,0964.013 Union of Democrats for Europe70,2933.283 The Apulian Spring55,3352.583 Party of Italian Communists48,1412.242 Autonomist Socialists – PSDI – MRE47,5112.222 Italy of Values38,1201.781 Federation of the Greens33,3091.551 United Democratic Christians8,3970.39– Pensioners' Party3,9590.18–Total1,065,75249.6941 Raffaele Fitto1,151,40549.241 Forza Italia381,66317.8010 National Alliance259,56312.107 Apulia First of All196,2819.155 Union of Christian and Centre Democrats167,0387.794 New PSI – PRI48,1092.241 Social Idea Movement10,0990.47–Total1.062.75349.5527 Gianfelice Galassi10,9730.47– Social Alternative9,3680.44– Luca Scalabrini10,4770.45– Christian Democracy6,7910.32– Total candidates2,338,391100.002 Total parties2,144,664100.0068Source: Ministry of the Interior – Historical Archive of Elections
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