L'orientamento al leader: forme, effetti, dinamiche

Based on ITANES survey data from 1968, 1972, 2001, and 2004, this chapter focuses on the nature and evolution of leader-oriented vote choices in Italy over the last decades. Having doubled in size over 30 years, self-declared leader-oriented voters accounted for around 20% of the Italian electorate in the early 2000s. However, they remained predominantly centre-right voters, as was also the case in the early 1970s. This stronger leader-oriented ‘demand’ within the centre-right electorate reflects a more effective leadership ‘supply’ (i.e. a leader’s capacity of attraction relative to that of his/her party) from the centre-right party leaders. Conversely, a weaker leadership demand within the centre-left electorate is matched by a weaker leadership supply in the same political area.