Around 4.3 million Italians are heading to the polls on Sunday and Monday for regional elections in Emilia-Romagna and Umbria. These elections are set to be a significant test for both the national government and the opposition, following last month’s closely contested election in Liguria, which saw the centre-right narrowly triumph.
The centre-right candidates in the elections in Emilia-Romagna and Umbria are backed by Premier Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini’s League party, and Deputy Premier Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia party. Meanwhile, the centre-left contenders are supported by a coalition including the Democratic Party (PD), the 5-Star Movement (M5S), the Green-Left Alliance (AVS), and centrist groups Azione and Italia Viva (IV).
Emilia-Romagna traditionally left-leaning
A centre-right victory in Emilia-Romagna would be a political earthquake for the traditionally left-leaning region, which, along with Tuscany, has consistently supported the left throughout the regions’ 55-year history. Pre-election polls suggest centre-left candidate Michele de Pascale, the current mayor of Ravenna, is significantly ahead of the centre-right’s Elea Ugolini, an independent head teacher with ties to the Catholic group Communion and Liberation.
The Emilia-Romagna vote comes earlier than scheduled following the election of former governor Stefano Bonaccini to the European Parliament. Bonaccini, a prominent figure in the PD, could not run for a third term.
Umbria outcome uncertain
In Umbria, the centre-right is aiming to retain control of the region, which it won for the first time five years ago under Donatella Tesei of the League. Tesei, a lawyer and former mayor of Montefalco, faces centre-left candidate Stefania Proietti, an engineer, researcher, and current mayor of Assisi. Proietti also serves as the president of the province of Perugia.
The outcome in Umbria remains uncertain, with pre-election polls too close to call. A notable development is the withdrawal of Stefano Bandecchi, the controversial mayor of Terni, from the race. Bandecchi, leader of the small right-wing Popular Alternative party, has now endorsed Tesei, a move some analysts believe could tip the scales in her favour.
Premier Meloni hopes to extend the centre-right’s impressive record in regional elections. Since taking office two years ago, her coalition has won 11 of 12 contests, including June’s European elections. The centre-left’s sole victory during this period was in Sardinia.
