Prime Minister Primaries: Candidate Selection between Innovation and Manipulation

The use of primaries to select candidates for monocratic positions is among the most important innovations in Italian politics over the last few decades. First introduced in the selection protocol of the center-left, then in the statute of the Democratic Party (PD),3 these prima-ries have given rise not only to lively debates, not without critics and opponents, but also to a series of interesting experiences, particularly at the local and municipal levels.