Gianfranco Bettin is an Italian

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 sociologist

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...

 and long-time leader of the Greens

Federation of the Greens

The Federation of the Greens is a green political party in Italy, which includes also a large eco-socialist faction. Since 2009 the party leader is Angelo Bonelli.-Early years:...

 in Veneto

Veneto

Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...

.

During his career, he has been deputy mayor of Venice

Venice

Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...

 for Mestre

Mestre

Mestre is a city part of the comune of Venice, in Veneto, northern Italy.The city is connected to Venice by a large rail and road bridge, called Ponte della Libertà ....

 (1995–2005) and member of the Regional Council of Veneto

Regional Council of Veneto

The Regional Council of Veneto is the regional parliament of Veneto.It was first elected in 1970, when the ordinary Regions were instituted, on the basis of the Constitution of Italy of 1948.-Composition:...

 (2000–2010). In 2010 he launched IDEA – List for Veneto

IDEA – List for Veneto

IDEA is a green and Christian leftist political party active in Veneto, Italy....

 in order to broaden the base of Greens in Veneto, but somewhat surprisingly he was not re-elected.

In 2010 he won 35% of the vote in the centre-left primary election for mayor of Venice and barely won the nomination (the winner was Giorgio Orsoni

Giorgio Orsoni

Giorgio Orsoni is an Italian lawyer, politician, and the current mayor of Venice.-Biography:Orsoni is a lawyer by profession, and since 1972 has been Professor of administrative law at the University Ca 'Foscari of Venice...

with a mere 46% of the vote). Bettin is currently member of the municipal executive of Venice.