The government coalition wins 5 out of 7 votes, it prevails in Sicily, where the votes were held in the first round, in Terni the civic candidate from the center-right area wins. And to prevent the plein, all that’s missing is the result of Vicenza, where the center-left wins by a thread. “An excellent Schlein effect”, jokes League leader Matteo Salvini. While Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanks the citizens who “rewarded our good governance, our proposals and our concreteness” and underlines that “there are no longer strongholds”.
The Democratic Party secretariat, meeting with the count still in progress, could only take note of the defeat. “The wind from the right is still strong and continues”, says Elly Schlein, who nevertheless invites the opposition to reflect: “We can’t win alone”.
Another element is the strong abstention, since on average less than one voter in two went to the polls, even less than 58.39% in the first round.
Ancona, for the first time in history, will have a centre-right mayor. This is Daniele Silvetti, elected with 51.7% against 48.3% of Ida Simonella. The centre-right also wins in the three Tuscan cities that go to the polls. In Siena Nicoletta Fabio wins the women’s challenge over Anna Ferretti, in Pisa Michele Conti prevails over Paolo Martinelli, in Massa Francesco Persiani over Romolo Enzo Ricci. Finally, in Brindisi Pino Marchionna wins Roberto Fusco, supported by Pd and M5S.
Only Vicenza saved the center-left from disaster, where the new mayor is Giacomo Possamai who, with a coalition ranging from the PD to the Verdi Alliance and Sinistra ad Azione and Italia Viva, beat the outgoing mayor to the edge – about 500 votes Francis Rucco. And the success of the centre-right is also imminent in Sicily: in Catania, Enrico Trantino is more than 60% successful in the first round.
For Meloni “the centre-right wins these administrative elections and confirms its consensus among Italians, its roots, its strength”. And, addressing the new mayors, he guarantees that “you will always find the Government by your side”. “The centre-right wins throughout Italy – celebrates the deputy prime minister and coordinator of Forza Italia, Antonio Tajani -. An extraordinary result that strengthens the government”. And the result of the polls, which speaks of a long honeymoon between the majority and the voters, relaunches the unity of the center-right also in view of the next election appointment, in a year’s time. “It is a result that exceeds expectations, also positive for the next European elections”, says the leader of Forza Italia in the Chamber, Paolo Barelli. For the opposition, however, it is time for analysis. Azione leader Carlo Calenda sees a “clear” fact: “You cannot win by opposing left-wing populism and 5S to right-wing sovereignty.” The secretary of the PD, Elly Schlein, points out that “it is clear that we cannot win alone and it is necessary to rebuild a credible alternative camp on the right, which is divided on many issues”.
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.
