Vincenzo De Luca

Early life

Vincenzo De Luca was born in Ruvo del Monte, in the province of Potenza, on May 1949 and moved, then in Salerno at an early age with his family. He completed his studies in Salerno earning his diploma at the high lyceum gymnasium Torquato Tasso and, after a few years of medical studies in Naples, he abandoned with the rise of political engagement, and graduated in philosophy at the University of Salerno. After graduating, for a few years he taught philosophy in high schools.

Political career

During 1970s De Luca became a member of the Italian Communist Party, at the time led by Enrico Berlinguer. In 1975, after having been head of the provincial organization, he will be appointed provincial secretary of the PCI, leading the federation for 10 years. In those years, for his profession, he was jokingly nicknamed "The Professor" (O Professore). Due to his hard nature De Luca was also nicknamed "Pol Pot", as the Cambodian communist dictator.

Mayor of Salerno

De Luca was elected to the city council of Salerno in 1990, holding the posts of commissioner of public works and Deputy Mayor. In the spring of 1993 he became Mayor for the first time due to the resignation of the elected Mayor, Vincent Giordano, who involved in the investigation Tangentopoli.

After a month, the resignation of the majority of councilors cause the dissolution of the junta. Subsequent elections of December 5 sees the mayoral election of De Luca, head of the "Progressive List for Salerno", with 57.8% of votes in a second ballot against Giuseppe Acocella.

On 16 November 1997, De Luca was re-elected Mayor in the first round with 71.3% of the vote.

Member of the Chamber of Deputies

Not being able to reapply for a third term as Mayor, De Luca resigned to run for the Parliament in 2001 general election; on 31 May 2001 he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the single-member constituency 14 (Campania 2nd District) with the percentage of 55.4% of the vote, the highest obtained by a candidate of The Olive Tree coalition in Southern Italy.

After the 2006 general election, De Luca was re-elected at the Chamber of Deputies; he was appointed member of the Agriculture Commission.

Mayor of Salerno again

During the local elections of 11 and 12 June 2006, Vincenzo De Luca was is re-elected Mayor of Salerno for third term after a run-off election, gaining 56.9% of the votes. At these local election, he was the candidate of a center-left list "Progressives for Salerno", in opposition to the MEP Alfonso Andria, supported by The Daisy, and some members of the Democrats of the Left, which were against the new candidacy of De Luca, due to his strong opposition to the Democrat President of Campania Antonio Bassolino.

On 30 January 2010 De Luca announced his candidacy to become President of Campania for the March regional election. But his centre-right rival Stefano Caldoro, a former minister and leader of the New PSI, merged into The People of Freedom in 2009, won by a convincing margin, thanks to a 20% swing in favour of the centre-right, which included the Union of the Centre led by Ciriaco De Mita, an influent former leader of Christian Democracy, converted into the role of local party boss.

In 2011 De Luca was re-elected for a fourth term as Mayor of Salerno with 74.42% of votes.

President of Campania

On 31 May 2015, De Luca was elected President of Campania in the regional election, with 41% of the votes, defeating the incumbent governor Stefano Caldoro with a margin of 66,000 votes.