The regional elections are a real gamble. Zaia looks to Rome, while Puglia is at a standstill.

More political than regional. Perhaps because this is the last election before 2027, negotiations and agreements on regional governments have never been more centralized in Rome than during the autumn session. With the center-left's coalition agreement now in place, the majority is lingering over the crucial issue of the succession to the Venetian Doge and Lega Nord apostate, Luca Zaia, whose reassignment to government could also involve the Campania region. Yesterday, the leader of Noi Moderati, Maurizio Lupi, announced that the coalition could resolve the situation tomorrow and suggested a position for Zaia, while ruling out any possibility of a cabinet reshuffle, which Giorgia Meloni has always shunned like the plague. The governor's loyalists are more skeptical about a prompt resolution to the dispute. On Tuesday, July 29, the Democratic Party leadership will be called upon to approve the already established list of candidates and alliances.

VENETO

The fifteen-year "Zaia Era," with its unprecedented bipartisan consensus, will certainly come to an end. The center-right's victory is assured. It remains to be seen whether the Doge intends to run with his own list, primarily to the detriment of the League. And without even running, given his government aspirations. From here on, the situation is slowly sinking. The "Piantedosi" ruling has been in the spotlight in recent hours, with the minister reportedly deployed in Campania, but the challenge has become even more daunting following De Luca's support for the Democratic Party-M5S coalition. The possibility of Piantedosi making way for Salvini's return to the Interior Ministry, which would hand over Infrastructure to Zaia, is also unlikely, given the reluctance of Mattarella and Meloni. A mini-waltz could involve Tourism, where Santanché is struggling, or Agriculture, if Lollobrigida were to replace the minister. The Piantedosi idea would be a precursor to a candidate from the FdI (coordinator Luca De Carlo) or a regional candidate (Matteo Zappas) in Veneto. But the Northern League members are not listening and are keeping the Veneto secretary and MP Alberto Stefani or the mayor of Treviso, Mario Conte, in the running. Meanwhile, the center-left candidate is the former mayor of the city, Giovanni Manildo.

CAMPANIA

Regardless of the aforementioned ruling, the center-right's deputy foreign minister, Edmondo Cirielli (FdI), remains in pole position. On the center-left side, however, Governor Vincenzo De Luca has vetoed Roberto Fico's Five Star Movement (M5S), supported by Schlein and Conte, in exchange for a seat on the council and immunity from reprisals for his son, Piero, a member of Parliament. Furthermore, "if he wants to return as mayor of Salerno, he can do so without requesting" permits. This solution was supported by the minority Democratic Party and Italia Viva. But rejected by Azione, which has always been hostile to the Five Star alliance (starting with the Acerra incinerator).

MARCHE

A proponent of dialogue since he was mayor of Pesaro, the alliance with the Five Star Movement championed by Matteo Ricci led to the defection of Azione (again, over the controversial waste-to-energy plant). The Democratic MEP is also the person who could change the electoral record if he were to defeat the governor of the Italian Democratic Party (FdI) Francesco Acquaroli. And right now, he would be ahead.

PUGLIA

Democratic Party MEP and former mayor of Bari, Antonio Decaro, isn't eager to find two illustrious predecessors of the caliber of Vendola and Emiliano on the Council. While the AVS representative "has to get over it," the outgoing governor, running for the Democratic Party, risks significantly overshadowing the incoming governor. Therefore, a cabinet post is being considered while awaiting Emiliano's move to Palazzo Madama in 2027. The center-right, however, is in dire straits. In the absence of any strong names, the most likely candidate for the European Commissioner Raffaele Fitto's fiefdom is currently FI MP Mauro D'Attis.

TUSCANY

Despite the rumors, the confirmation of Democratic Party member Eugenio Giani was never in question, under penalty of disavowing "a particular era and culture of government." His re-election was threatened by negotiations in Rome with the Five Star Movement and some internal party speculation. But Giani has rebounded on the back of the end-of-life law, which appeals to voters and the Democratic Party leadership. He will face the mayor of Pistoia, Alessandro Tomasi, of the Brothers of Italy (FdI), who is more competitive than his predecessors.

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Regional Elections