2010 Venetian regional election

After having supported Giancarlo Galan (The People of Freedom, PdL) for ten years as President of Veneto, Liga Veneta–Lega Nord (that received 28.4% of the vote in the 2009 European Parliament election in Veneto compared to the 29.3% of the PdL), soon reclaimed the post of President for one of itself, with Luca Zaia (Minister of Agriculture in Berlusconi IV Cabinet) or Flavio Tosi (Mayor of Verona and most popular mayor of Italy[1]) as likeliest choices.

Since the early days Zaia was the strongest candidate. According to an opinion poll, 72% of Venetian voters liked him and 67% considered him practised (48 and 42% were the scores of Galan, largely behind also of Tosi), a 49% would back him as President, while only 37% would back Galan.[2] Moreover, centre-right voters preferred Zaia to Galan by an 8-point margin (49.3% to 41.2%). Differently from the incumbent president, Zaia was popular among the young and non-autonomous workers, who generally back the left.[3] Galan and the regional section of the PdL (whose leader is Silvio Berlusconi) disagreed and wanted a fourth term for Galan, who was first elected in 1995. At some point a three-way race in Veneto between Galan, Zaia and a candidate of the Democratic Party (PD) seemed possible, but neither Berlusconi nor Umberto Bossi, federal secretary of Lega Nord, liked the idea.[4][5][6]

In December 2009 the national committee of The People of Freedom (PdL) determined that it would have supported a leghista in Veneto.[7] Subsequently the National Council (where "national" means "Venetian") of Liga Veneta nominated Zaia for President. Tosi, who as president of Liga Veneta presided the Council, tried until the last minute to be the candidate[8] and some councillors opted for Franco Manzato instead.[9] However, as a strong majority backed Zaia (including the party's secretary Gian Paolo Gobbo), Zaia was voted unanimously by the Council, including Tosi.[10]

The Venetian PdL is afraid that Liga Veneta, headed by Zaia, will dominate regional politics for many years to come, similarly to what the South Tyrolean People's Party has done in South Tyrol. According to another opinion poll, in the forthcoming election, with Zaia candidate, the PdL would be reduced to a mere 23% with the League at 35% and Zaia would beat Galan also in a three-way race.[11]

Galan, who has seldom hinted the idea of forming a Venetist party of his own, was rumored as independent candidate supported by the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC) and, less likely, by the opposition Democratic Party.[12][13] However Galan ruled out the idea of running against his party and Zaia, opening the way for a bid by Antonio De Poli, UDC regional leader.[14][15]

The UDC refused to join forces with the centre-left, leaving the PD to choose between Laura Puppato, Mayor of Montebelluna, who had expressed her interest for the race[16] and Giuseppe Bortolussi, respected leader of the Mestre section of Confartigianato.[17] The PD eventually chose Bortolussi, who beat Puppato by 39 votes to 29 in the regional board of the party.[18]

• Luca Zaia (Liga Veneta–Lega Nord), supported by Liga Veneta–Lega Nord, The People of Freedom and Alliance of the Centre (comprising the Venetian People's Movement)
• Giuseppe Bortolussi (independent, close to the Democratic Party), supported by the Democratic Party, Italy of Values, IDEA – List for Veneto, Left Ecology Freedom–Italian Socialist Party and the Communist Refoundation Party–Party of Italian Communists
• Antonio De Poli (Union of the Centre), supported by the Union of the Centre (comprising also Veneto for the EPP and Alliance for Italy) and North-East Union[19] (comprising North-East Project, Liga Veneta Repubblica and Venetian Agreement)
• Silvano Polo[20] (Party of the Venetians), supported by the Party of the Venetians
• Gianluca Panto[21] (Venetian National Party), supported by the Venetian National Party
• David Borrelli[22] (Five Star Movement), supported by the Five Star Movement

After the election, Luca Zaia formed his first government, composed of twelve ministers, six of Liga Veneta, that maintained the strategic Health portfolio (with Luca Coletto) and gained, above all, Budget and Finances (with Roberto Ciambetti), and six of the PdL, including Marino Zorzato, who was sworn as Vice President, and Renato Chisso, who was confirmed for a third consecutive term as Minister of Infrastructures and Transports.

Source: Veneto Region – Ninth Legislature – Zaia Government
Note 1: In November 2013 The People of Freedom (PdL) was transformed into Forza Italia (FI); a group of dissidents formed the New Centre-Right (NCD).
Note 2: In March 2015 a group of splinters from Liga Veneta (LV) formed the Tosi List for Veneto (LTV).