then announced he would run for the leadership, even if only to act as a symbolic candidate, to avoid a one-candidate election. After some time, more candidates were presented. The seven candidates for the leadership of The Union were, in the order in which they appear on the electoral ballot: Fausto Bertinotti, secretary of the Communist Refoundation Party. Antonio Di Pietro, former anti-corruption prosecutor in the Mani Pulite investigation, leader of Italy of Values. Ivan Scalfarotto, a manager living in London and a blogger, running as an independent candidate. He is openly bisexual. The faceless candidate, formally represented in person by Simona Panzino. This was a symbolic candidate from the anti-globalization movement. Some priests close to these movements were initially suggested for the actual name to place on the ballots, but they were retreated in face of likely backfire from the Holy See. Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, secretary of the Federation of the Greens. Other than environmentalism, he had a civil rights-oriented and pacifist agenda. He is openly bisexual. Romano Prodi, leader of The Olive Tree coalition; former Prime Minister of Italy and president of the European Commission. Prodi was supported by DS, DL and PdCI. Clemente Mastella, leader of the Union of Democrats for Europe. A former ally of Silvio Berlusconi, he was considered the most Catholic and centrist candidate. The primary election may have been foreseen an easy win for Romano Prodi, with the other candidates running mostly to "measure their strengths" in the coalition, and they often talked about reaching a certain percentage rather than winning. However, there were rumours of supporters of the House of Freedoms trying to participate in the elections, and vote in favour of Mastella, reputed to be the least competent of the candidates and the least likely to win against Berlusconi, other than the most centrist; other rumours indicated such "fake" left-wing voters would vote for Bertinotti, because his leadership would likely lose any grip on the political centre. The election The primary election had been held nationwide on 16 October 2005, from 8 am to 10 pm. The primary election was open to all Italian citizens who were at least 18 during the following general election, plus regular immigrants who have lived in Italy for three years (immigrants still do not have the opportunity to vote for any other election in Italy), against a payment of (at least) 1 euro, charged to