Nichi Vendola

Nichi Vendola
President of Italian Left
Assumed office
26 November 2023
Preceded byMaria Gabriella Branca
President of Apulia
In office
27 April 2005 – 26 June 2015
Preceded byRaffaele Fitto
Succeeded byMichele Emiliano
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
15 March 2013 – 16 April 2013
ConstituencyApulia
In office
23 April 1992 – 3 May 2005
ConstituencyBari-Foggia (1992–1994)
Bitonto (1994–1996)
Apulia (1996–2005)
Personal details
Born (1958-08-26) 26 August 1958 (age 66)
Bari, Italy
Political partyItalian Left
Other political
affiliations
PCI (1972–1991)
PRC (1991–2009)
SEL (2009–2017)
Domestic partnerEdward Testa (since 2004)
Alma materUniversity of Bari
Professionpolitician, journalist, writer

Nicola "Nichi" Vendola (Italian pronunciation: [ˈniːki ˈvɛndola]; born 26 August 1958) is an Italian left-wing politician and LGBT activist who was a Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Apulia from 1992 to 2005 and President of Apulia from 2005 to 2015. Since 2023 he is the President of the Italian Left. He is one of the first openly LGBT Italian politicians and the first openly LGBT heads of a regional government in Italy.