The results of the polls organized in certain parts of Italy on Sunday and Monday are intended to consolidate the executive branch installed in Rome. In fact, the right-wing governing coalition won the regional elections organized in two important regions with almost complete results.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia (FDI, far-right) coalition, Matteo Salvini’s Anti-Migrant League and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia (FI, right) won the peninsula’s two most populous regions, Lombardy, around Milan, the economic heart of the country, and Lazio, the region of the capital Rome. Italian regions have significant autonomy from the central government in many areas, including health, transport and education.
A strong abstention
After almost all the ballots have been counted, the right-wing candidate in Lombardy, outgoing governor Attilio Fontana, member of the Lega, is credited with 55% of the votes, while his pursuer on the left is credited with 34%. In Lazio, the right leads with 53% of the vote for Francesco Rocca, former president of the Italian Red Cross, versus 34% for the left candidate, Alessio D’Amato, the region’s outgoing health official, who has admitted loss.
“Congratulations to Francesco Rocca, President, and Attilio Fontana, President, for the clear victory in the 2023 regional elections (…) a result that consolidates the unity of the right and strengthens government action,” Giorgia Meloni responded on Twitter. “Victory. Thank you Lombardy, thank you Lazio,” tweeted Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister of the Meloni government. The vote, on the other hand, was marked by a very large number of abstentions, with only 40% participation in the two regions.
One of the issues now lies in the individual outcome of the parties in the governing coalition, which could impact the balance of power between the FDI, League and FI. According to a survey published by the Youtrend Institute on February 2, the League and the FI are losing momentum while the FDI continues to advance: in the event of new elections at national level, their result would rise to 29.4% against 26% in the September legislature climb . According to the same survey, the league is 8.7% and FI is 7%.
Giorgia Meloni is also benefiting from the opposition parties’ inability to unite against her. The Democratic Party (PD, left), eager for a new leader, is retreating amid the rise of the Five Star Movement while the center remains stable.