Center-right administrative tsunami in municipalities. Meloni: “Good governance rewarded”

If the first round was bad for the center-left, the result at the polls is even worse. The centre-right triumphs in six of the seven capitals: it takes Ancona and Brindisi away from its opponents and confirms itself in Massa, Pisa and Siena (red Tuscany is now an ancient memory). Just like in Terni, where the new mayor is right-wing Stefano Bandecchi. The Democratic Party only wins in Vicenza, a city formerly run by the centre-right, but that of Giacomo Possamai (Lettiano with civic spirit) is a victory over fino di lana, with just 500 votes ahead of Francesco Rucco. If we add the verdicts of two weeks ago with the ballots of yesterday, the center-right-center-left match ends at 10-3. Small detail, Possamai was the only candidate in the electoral campaign to have explicitly told Schlein: “Please don’t come”. “Extraordinary results by the League and the centre-right across Italy, with historic victories in Ancona – the only regional capital to vote, which has always been managed by the left – and Brindisi, triumph in Tuscany with the reconquest of Massa, Pisa and Siena” , comments the deputy prime minister and leader of the League Matteo Salvini, who ironically adds: “There is no denying it: an excellent Schlein effect”. The same effect was registered in the first round, when it ended 4-2 for the government parties. And yet, at the time, the secretary of the Democratic Party even claimed victory, arguing that the right was retreating. The reality is diametrically opposite: the center-right is advancing everywhere.

So much so that last night, after a fluvial meeting of the political secretariat, and despite asserting himself at the head of the «first party», Schlein is forced to admit: «It is a clear defeat, the wind from the right is still strong. You can’t rebuild in two months, it’s going to take time, you can’t win alone”. Giorgia Meloni’s look and smile say it all. The Prime Minister comments on the results with a video on Facebook: “The centre-right wins these administrative elections, confirms its consensus among Italians, its roots, its strength. I want to thank all the citizens who chose to place their trust in the centre-right, who rewarded our good governance, our proposals, our pragmatism”. He then underlines the “historic” victory of Ancona, “confirming that there are no longer strongholds and that citizens know how to make their choices, evaluating programs and people”. Overall, “it is a result that encourages us to continue and do even better,” he adds. I wish all the elected mayors a good job. You will always find the government on your side.

This election round was marked by high abstention, with a turnout of 49.64%, down 8.75% compared to the first round. The victory in Ancona, highlighted by the prime minister, is certainly the most important for the centre-right. Daniele Silvetti (51.7%) prevails over Ida Simonella (48.3%). It is no coincidence that the coordinator of mayors of the Democratic Party, Matteo Ricci, speaks of a “painful defeat”, the result of “divisions in the first round that did not come together”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and national coordinator of the FI, Antonio Tajani, rejoices: “The center-right and Forza Italia easily won the administrative elections. Our movement confirms itself as central in the Italian political scene, from North to South. How much satisfaction for our Daniele Silvetti who, after 30 years, starts Ancona from the left». The victories in Tuscany are also clear, with the confirmations of Francesco Persiani in Massa, with 54%, and Michele Conti in Pisa, with 52%, in addition to the success of Nicoletta Fabio in Siena with 52.16%. The mayor of Brindisi is Pino Marchionna (54%). The Apulian capital returns to the centre-right after twelve years. Here was an important test, as the center-left candidate, Roberto Fusco, was a direct expression of the M5S. Finally, the volcanic new mayor of Terni, as well as president of Ternana Calcio, patron of Unicusano and national coordinator of Alternativa Popolare, Stefano Bandecchi promises to be an “example of good politics”.