The last regional elections of the year in Italy have ratified the political balance between the two blocs: , while the right perpetuates its dominance in the north. According to the first exit polls of the elections that were held between Sunday and Monday, the left coalition will retain the regions of Campania and Apulia, territories where the center-left has traditionally been strong, while the right will continue to govern in the northern region of Veneto, one of its strongest fiefdoms.
Nearly 13 million Italians were called to vote in those three regions and the elections were considered a new battle between , which governs the country, and the opposition, which usually attends in coalition in regional elections, unlike the national ones, where it has attended separately in recent times. These votes had a particular meaning as they were the last major events at the polls before the general elections at the beginning of 2027, which is why they had become a representative thermometer of the national political climate. But there have been no surprises and the predictions have been fulfilled: those territories will continue to be in the hands of the same parties, without altering the current balance between forces.
The far-right Brothers of Italy of Meloni, and Forza Italia, led by Antonio Tajani, form the conservative bloc, which usually also participates in coalition in national elections and currently holds power. While the Democratic Party and the 5 Star Movement have presented themselves together with the support of other small formations.
The southern region of Campania, with its capital in Naples, has been governed uninterruptedly by the left for the past decade. According to Rai public television polls, the progressive candidate, Roberto Fico, of the 5 Star Movement and former president of the Chamber of Deputies, will prevail with between 56% and 60% of the votes.
Fico would thus succeed the current president of Campania, Vincenzo de Luca, a veteran of the Democratic Party and who maintains an openly conflictive relationship with Prime Minister Meloni, with numerous clashes and confrontations. De Luca, much to his regret, could not run because he had exceeded the limit of two consecutive terms. The election of Fico as a candidate occurred after a long negotiation between the national leadership of the parties. Fico’s candidacy can serve to highlight the effort that the two main opposition parties are making to build a solid progressive alliance that can be projected at the national level, according to analysts. In fact, several national political figures such as and . Their presence was perceived as a rehearsal for the next general elections and the doors of 2026, which will be the pre-electoral year.
In Apulia, exit polls also give victory to the left-wing candidate and former mayor of Bari, Antonio Decaro, with a wide lead that could reach 68% of the votes, compared to businessman Luigi Lobuono, supported by the right and who will obtain around 30% of the support.
The northern region of Veneto will continue to be in the hands of the right, with the victory of its candidate, Alberto Stefani, who would score between 59% and 63% of the votes. He would thus succeed the outgoing president Luca Zaia, one of the most influential barons in Salvini’s party, as head of the regional government.
These were the latest in a series of elections in seven major regions of Italy that have been held this fall and are the prelude to the fourth and penultimate year of Meloni’s term. The right-wing coalition governs in 13 regions, while the left maintains control of six.
Participation in these elections has been low, despite the fact that the voting centers have been open for two days and the average between the three regions was slightly below 44% of the electoral roll, compared to the 57% that was registered in the previous regional elections.
