Many confirmations and few surprises in the Capital vote for the Lazio Region. Meloni effect in his hometown that still elects, in the face of the 2021 municipal elections, Fratelli d’Italia as the first party in Rome, but doubling the preferences (from 17.4 to 33.2%), with a better result in the stronghold of Tor Bella Monaca, where it reached 42%. A tsunami that the Brothers of Italy surpassed only by candidate Francesco Rocca who takes higher percentages, up to ten points more than the largest party in the center-right coalition.
The numbers speak for themselves with the preferences given to the new governor exceeding 324,000 votes, the equivalent of 46% compared to the approximately 290,000 of the lists that supported him (47%). Another piece of data worth mentioning is the slight growth of Forza Italia and Lega which, however, remain well below the double-digit result, with an average for both of around 4% of the consensus across the city with an insignificant difference between both.
But if in short the “explosion” of consensus of Giorgia Meloni’s party now in the national government was taken for granted, the growth of the Democratic Party is not surprising. The end of an era, the Zingaretic era that ruled Lazio for ten years and therefore Rome, caused dem polls to drop in Caporetto numbers. And instead, with a number that can be considered practically definitive, the Democratic Party obtains in the capital led by Roberto Gualtieri, 22.3%, decimal plus, decimal minus, against 16.38 of the municipalities in 2021.
The center-left coalition closes this electoral round with 39% of the votes and a difference between the candidate for president Alessio D’Amato and the coalition, which in percentage terms does not advance at all, remaining at 39.6%. The Five Star Movement loses, but not much, getting 10% against 11 in 2021, when however we were playing at home with the outgoing mayor, Virginia Raggi, re-candidate and who got 19%. As Grillina tradition dictates, the candidate’s greatest success in relation to Conte’s party must be recorded. Donatella Bianchi obtained 12% and, with the exception of V Municipality, she achieves better results than the list practically everywhere.
Two data, that of the center-left and that of the Five Star Movement, which confirm the return to bipolarity. Joining forces they would have made a different game and who knows with some striking surprises. Too soon to say whether the Roman Democratic Party can return to its former glory, surely an important challenge opens up for the Capitol. Not only because it is the only important stronghold of power, but also to sanction and guarantee that balance of currents that is essential to keep it standing. And as the congress approaches, there could be several unexpected turns.
In short, a difficult path for Mayor Gualtieri, while a new season opens for the center-right. After the years in which Berlusconi’s Forza Italia achieved the historic feat of electing Mayor Alemanno and Governor Polverini, it is now up to the Brothers of Italy to sow the seeds for a different political phase, more cohesive and concrete, that can create this manager class capable of leading to an alternation of government in the capital. This would be the most important victory for democracy and perhaps a decisive weapon against that abstentionism that reached its sad record in these elections with only 33.11% of Roman voters who went to vote.
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
