Centre-Right Emerges Victorious in Marche Elections, Strengthening Meloni's Position

In a significant electoral outcome, the centre-right is poised to maintain control over the Marche region, providing a boost to Premier Giorgia Meloni. According to exit polls conducted during the elections held on Sunday and Monday, incumbent Governor Francesco Acquaroli is leading his centre-left opponent, Matteo Ricci, with a projected vote count of 49.53% to 45.49%. Acquaroli, who made history as the first centre-right governor of Marche four years ago, has seen support that was initially expected to be greater according to pre-election indicators. At 51 years old, Acquaroli is from Macerata, the capital of the Marche region, and is affiliated with Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party. His opponent, Ricci, also 51, served as the former mayor of Pesaro, the largest city in Marche and his birthplace. He leads a broad coalition that includes the Democratic Party (PD), the left-wing populist 5Star Movement (M5S), the Green-Left Alliance (AVS), and various centrist local groups. Acquaroli's coalition is supported by national ruling parties, including FdI, the centre-right Forza Italia (FI), the right-wing League party, and the smaller centrist Noi Moderati (We Moderates) party. This election is considered a crucial national barometer of political sentiment in Italy as several regional elections are underway. Marche was just one of seven regions conducting elections recently, with key upcoming votes scheduled for Calabria on October 5-6, Tuscany on October 12-13, and Veneto, Campania, and Puglia on November 24-25. In a related note, a regional election in Val d'Aosta this past Sunday reported that local autonomist and progressive parties successfully retained control. The ongoing electoral contests are critical for gauging the political landscape in Italy, especially ahead of future national debates and potential shifts in alliances. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3