Stefano Bonaccini

Early political career

Stefano Bonaccini was born in Modena, on 1 January 1967.

Bonaccini started his political career during 1980s, when he was a member of the peace movements. In 1990 he was appointed assessor in the comune of Campogalliano, near Modena, where he lived; in 1995 he was elected secretary of the Democratic Party of the Left for Modena. In 2007 he became the provincial secretary of the new formed Democratic Party and two years later Bonaccini was elected regional secretary of the PD for Emilia-Romagna.

After the 2010 regional election, Bonaccini was elected regional councilor for the Democratic Party. On 13 December 2013, he was appointed national coordinator for "Local Authorities" in the national secretariat of the PD, under the leadership of Matteo Renzi, who Bonaccini supported in the 2013 primary election.

President of Emilia-Romagna

After the resignation of the Emilia-Romagna long-time President Vasco Errani, Bonaccini run and won the centre-left primary election to become the candidate-President for the Democratic Party, with 60.9% of votes against the former mayor of Forlì, Roberto Balzani.

On 23 November 2014, he won the regional election in Emilia-Romagna with 49.1% of votes, becoming the 9th President of the region.

On 17 December 2015, Bonaccini was elected President of the Conference of the Region and Autonomous Provinces, replacing Piedmontese President Sergio Chiamparino, who resigned few weeks before.

On 12 December 2016, Bonaccini was elected president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.