Regional Elections in Italy: A Critical Test for Government and Opposition
As millions of Italians prepare to head to the polls on Sunday and Monday, regional elections in Emilia-Romagna and Umbria are poised to serve as a crucial litmus test for both the national government and the opposition. Approximately 43 million voters are eligible to participate in these elections, which come on the heels of last month’s closely contested election in Liguria, where the center-right managed a narrow victory.
The center-right candidates in this race are united under the banner of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, along with Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini's League (Lega) and Antonio Tajani's Forza Italia. On the opposing side, the center-left is backed by Elly Schlein's Democratic Party (PD), former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's Five-Star Movement (M5S), the Green-Left Alliance (AVS), and various centrist groups including Carlo Calenda's Azione and former PD chief Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva (IV).
A center-right win in Emilia-Romagna would be a shocking development, as this region, along with Tuscany, has historically leaned left since regional governments were established back in 1970. Currently, pre-election polls suggest that Michele de Pascale, the mayor of Ravenna and the center-left candidate, is significantly ahead of his center-right opponent, Elena Ugolini, who is an independent head teacher affiliated with the Catholic group Communion and Liberation.
These elections come earlier than expected after the European Parliament elections resulted in the departure of former center-left governor Stefano Bonaccini, who leads the PD but could not run for a third term.
Meanwhile, in Umbria, the center-right aims to maintain control with incumbent Donatella Tesei, a civil and administrative lawyer who previously served as the mayor of Montefalco. She faces a challenge from Stefania Proietti, the center-left candidate and the current mayor of Assisi. There is speculation that the controversial right-wing mayor of Terni, Stefano Bandecchi, may influence the election outcome by throwing his support behind Tesei.
Polls ahead of the vote in Umbria suggest an extremely close contest, with no definitive leader emerging. Prime Minister Meloni is keen to continue her coalition's winning streak in regional elections, where they have succeeded in 11 out of 12 local contests since she took office two years ago, barring one exception in Sardinia.
Voting commenced at 7 a.m. on Sunday and will conclude by 3 p.m. on Monday. Initial turnout figures indicate around a 50% participation rate at noon, a notable decline compared to the same stage in previous elections.
As the results come in, both sides will be closely analyzing the implications of these elections for the broader political landscape in Italy.
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