2016 Etrurian federal election

2016 Etrurian general election

10 August 2016
All 680 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and All 290 seats in the State Council
Turnout	34,730,414 (78.40%)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Francesco Carcaterra Gianluca Tozzo Milan Vučković Party Tribune Movement Citizens' Alliance Farmers and Workers Union Leader since 13 March 2012 1 August 2011 10 July 2015 Leader's seat San Pietro della Abbadia Lariana (C) San Alessandro III (C) Kaštela-Kvor Last election 14 seats C / 10 S 22 seats C / 12 S 48 C / 80 S Seats won 387 C / 166 S 110 C / 62 S 53 C / 15 S Seat change 373 C / 156 S 88 C / 50 S 5 C / 65 S Popular vote 14,833,359 7,946,318 4,292,679 Percentage 42.71% 22.88% 12.36%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Andrea Reali Matteo Fernandino Paruta Fernando De Micheli Party Etrurian Federalist Party Etrurian Socialist Party Etrurian Greens Leader since 7 July 2016 8 July 2016 1 April 2010 Leader's seat Piscara-Nord San Gennaro su Hermes Last election 366 C / 153 S 226 C / 35 S 4 C / 0 S Seats won 62 C / 23 S 50 C / 13 S 18 C / 11 S Seat change 304 C / 130 S 176 C / 22 S 14 C / 11 S Popular vote 3,945,375 2,094,243 1,618,437 Percentage 11.36% 6.03% 4.66%
President before election Andrea Reali Etrurian Federalist Party Elected President Francesco Carcaterra Tribune Movement

General elections were held in the United Transestrurian Federation for both houses of the Senate of the Federation on the 10 August 2016. All 680 and 290 members of the Chamber of Representatives and State Council respectively, were elected under a single non-transferable vote system in multi-member electoral districts.

The election saw the established two parties of the incumbent Etrurian Federalist Party, under President Andrea Reali and the Etrurian Socialist Party, under Matteo Fernandio Paruta suffer their worst defeats in history. The Tribune Movement under Francesco Carcaterra won a landslide victory, securing a majority in both houses of the Senate, while the Citizens' Alliance under Gianluca Tozzo made strong gains. The Workers and Farmers Union, under Milan Vučković and the Etrurian Greens under Fernando De Micheli making some gains.

Francesco Carcaterra became President of Etruria the next day with a sizeable majority in both houses of the federal legislature. The result also marked the first time a far-right populist political party had been elected into government since the functionalist era.

Background

At the last election, the Etrurian Federalist Party was returned to power with slight losses to the Citizens' Alliance and Tribune Movement in wake of President Emiliano Reali's declaration that Etruria would hold a referendum on membership of the Euclean Community back in 2012. The Etrurian Socialist Party also lost seats to the Tribune Movement, indicating a long-held belief of declining support for the established parties.

The failure of the Reali government to hold the referendum swiftly after the election further compounded the decline in support, with many noting the pacing had given extra oxygen and space to those opposing the referendum. Between 2013 and 2016, the Reali administration was hit by a series of minor corruption and personal scandals, which further damaged support.

When the EC membership referendum which took place between June and July 2016, the poor organisation and bitter infighting within the pro-EC camp (led jointly by the Federalist and Socialist parties) and major corruption scandals consuming the Reali government, ultimately played a key role in the No-campaign's (led by the Tribune Movement) dramatic victory on July 6, when 55.34% of voters rejected membership. President Reali resigned on July 7, being succeeded by Vice President Andrea Salvini.

The defeat of EC membership also caused resignations in the Socialist Party and the collapse in support for both parties, while the victorious Tribune Movement, absorbed numerous right-wing and far-right minor parties and demanded a general election. Under immense pressure and growing unpopularity, President Salvini announced a snap election would be held on August 10. Throughout the campaign, Salvini's government was rocked by sudden resignations and arrests over the sprawling Meraviglia Scandal, while support for the Tribune Movement and progressive Citizens' Alliance was growing.

Timetable

15 July	President Andrea Salvini announced his intention to dissolve the Senate and hold an election for the 10 August.
16 July	Speaker of the Chamber of Representatives Pierluigi Grasso and Speaker of the State Council Mlatko Stepanovic accepts the President's request.
19 July	Formal dissolution of the Senate; start of campaign period.
30 July	Last day members of the public could register to vote.
31 July	Last day in which members of the public could apply for proxy voting or postal voting.
1 August	Last day for candidates to file nomination papers. Last day in which overseas voters can register to vote.
10 August	Polling day
15 August	New Senate assembled