23 Facts About Stefano Bonaccini

For nearly ten years, from November 2014 to July 2024, Bonaccini served as the President of Emilia-Romagna.

Stefano Bonaccini resigned from the role to become an MEP.

Stefano Bonaccini started his political career in the Italian Communist Party and followed that party's transition toward social democracy, becoming one of the main representatives of the PD's reformist or moderate wing.

Stefano Bonaccini was born in Campogalliano, near Modena, on 1 January 1967, in a lower middle-class family.

Stefano Bonaccini's father was a truck driver, while his mother worked in a factory.

The PCI was transformed into the Democratic Party of the Left and, in 1993, Stefano Bonaccini became provincial secretary of the Left Youth, the PDS youth-wing.

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 Stefano Bonaccini supported in the 2013 primary election.

Richetti withdrew his candidacy, while Stefano Bonaccini decided to continue his campaign.

On 20 July 2015, Stefano Bonaccini signed so-called the "Pact for Labour", a deal between regional government, trade unions and entrepreneurs, to relaunch employment in the region.

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

In 2017 and 2018, Stefano Bonaccini's government implemented a policy aimed to increase the political and fiscal autonomy of Emilia-Romagna.

Stefano Bonaccini was confirmed the centre-left candidate at the head of a coalition including the PD and its left-wing allies of Free and Equal and Green Europe, as well as More Europe.

Stefano Bonaccini launched a personal civic list, named "Stefano Bonaccini for President", which included, among others, members from Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva, Carlo Calenda's Action and Federico Pizzarotti's Italia in Comune.

On 1 November 2020, Stefano Bonaccini tested positive for COVID-19, amid a pandemic resurgence in the country.

In March 2021, when his region was heavily hit by a third wave of the pandemic, Stefano Bonaccini imposed red zones in the provinces of Bologna, Modena and in many municipalities through Romagna.

On 20 November 2022, Stefano Bonaccini formally announced his candidacy as leader of the Democratic Party.

Stefano Bonaccini was successively named as the new party president on 12 March 2023, following an agreement between him and Schlein.

In 2024, Stefano Bonaccini ran in the European Parliament election as PD's top candidate in the North East Italy constituency.

Stefano Bonaccini was elected with 390,400 votes, coming second after Prime Minister Meloni on the FdI list.

Stefano Bonaccini is married to Sandra Notari, a small business owner from Modena.

On 2 October 2023, Maria Vittoria had a daughter, Carolina, thus Stefano Bonaccini became grandfather at the age of 56.

Until 39 years old, Stefano Bonaccini played as a forward in many local football teams.

Stefano Bonaccini is an avid supporter of Juventus FC and Modena Volley.