The centre-left alliance will continue governing Campania and Puglia, while the centre right has held Veneto, according to results from Sunday and Monday’s regional elections. Turnout fell sharply in all three regions.
In Campania, former Lower House Speaker and M5S member Roberto Fico was projected to take just under 60%. Centre-right candidate and Foreign Undersecretary Edmondo Cirielli was set to reach just under 40%.
In Puglia, former Bari mayor Antonio Decaro was projected to win with just under 70%. The centre right’s Luigi Lobuono trails with just over 30%.
The centre right kept control of Veneto. Alberto Stefani of the right-wing Lega was projected to take over 60%, while the centre left’s Giovanni Manildo is forecast to achieve around 30%.
Turnout dropped across all three regions. Campania recorded 44.05%, down 11 points on the last election. Puglia saw turnout fall to 41.08%, a drop of more than 14 points. Veneto recorded 44.6%, down 16.5 points.
Schlein says results show alliance results in wins
Centre-left Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein said the results showed the alliance wins when united. “The alternative exists and it’s competitive. Redemption starts in the south and will lead us to victory together,” she said.
“The next general election is wide open. United we win. Fico and Decaro’s margin shows that united we win by a landslide, and even where we don’t win, like in Veneto, we double our results. Voters reward our united effort.” She closed by quoting the Neapolitan singer-songwriter Pino Daniele: “Tanto l’aria s’adda cagna’,” or “the air must change.”
Centre-right not jumping now
M5S leader and former premier Giuseppe Conte said the centre right “was not jumping any more”, referring to last week’s rally in Naples, where Premier Giorgia Meloni and centre-right leaders chanted “whoever isn’t jumping is a Communist”.
“Our Roberto Fico is the new President of Campania,” Conte said. “They’re no longer jumping around. We won by listening to the needs of people, families in difficulty, workers, and businesses. Those who jump around in the face of Italians’ difficulties have lost, and today they have fallen disastrously. Fico soundly defeated a candidate from Brothers of Italy, a member of the Meloni government, without getting involved in a mud fight.”
The “whoever isn’t jumping is a Communist” chant drew criticism from the centre-left opposition for lacking seriousness.
Premier Meloni congratulated Veneto’s winner but also acknowledged the centre-left victories in the south. “Alberto Stefani will be the new governor of the Veneto Region,” she said on social media. “This victory is the fruit of the hard work, credibility, and commitment of our coalition. My congratulations and best wishes to him for the challenges that lie ahead. Congratulations also to Antonio Decaro in Puglia and Roberto Fico in Campania on their election. May they fulfil their mandates to the fullest, in the best interests of the citizens they will represent.”
