Fedriga flies, Emiliano sinks. Sala recovers, Gualtieri in the rear. Giani exploits (the Democratic Party should take note)

The annual ranking of the approval ratings of mayors and regional presidents, drawn up by Noto Sondaggi for Il Sole 24 Ore , also provides a clear picture of the relationship between citizens and local administrators in 2025. At the top, an absolute novelty emerges: Marco Fioravanti , mayor of Ascoli Piceno (Fratelli d'Italia), conquers first place, preceding Michele Guerra ( Parma ) and a tie between Vito Leccese (Bari) and Gaetano Manfredi (Naples) . It is a great move for the center-right and an excellent result also for the South which, despite structural difficulties, manages to bring two names to the podium.

But attention is now turned to the Regions, and in particular to Tuscany, where President Eugenio Giani is preparing for the regional elections scheduled for October. The possible dates are the 12th or the 19th, with Giani who today indicated, even if not officially, the first . And there are no official investitures for the presidential candidates either by the Democratic Party and the center-left coalition or by the center-right coalition. In the meantime, however, the Nazareno has received a "tip-off" from the Noto poll, which rewards Giani: in second place overall among the regional presidents with a consensus of 58.5%, up 6.5 points compared to last year and a good 13.5 compared to 2023. Giani, already on a pre-election tour for weeks, confirms himself as a reference for the progressive area, also strong in a clear improvement compared to the electoral results. Compared to the votes obtained at the time of his election, his approval rating has risen by almost 10 points, second only to that of Schifani in Sicily .

The Governance Poll also confirms how territorial inequalities continue to weigh on the perception of administrators. Six of the last ten mayors in the ranking govern cities in the South. Last place goes to Roberto Lagalla (Palermo), closely followed by Giacomo Tranchida (Trapani) . Management difficulties, lack of resources and the structural weakness of local finances translate into a fragile consensus. The case of Michele Emiliano , president of Puglia, is emblematic: just 16th out of 18 among governors, with declining approval and signs of political fatigue, in a year in which the Region will go to the polls .

Among the mayors of large cities, Beppe Sala's leap forward in Milan stands out: he recovers ten positions and places ninth, a sign of renewed consensus in a key city for the center-left. On the contrary, Roberto Gualtieri, mayor of Rome, remains in the rear (89th place) despite a slight increase in approval. The comparison between the two is merciless: the Milanese management, despite its critical issues, enjoys greater trust than the difficult government of the Capital, where unmet expectations and internal political tensions weigh heavily.

The Governance Poll, as the authors themselves point out, does not measure voting intentions, but the willingness of voters to re-elect the current administrator. And it is precisely in this context that the reflection on local consensus fits: citizens judge not the political acronyms, but the concreteness of administrative action. It is no coincidence that in Benevento, Clemente Mastella is among those who improve the most compared to the polls, or if in Bari Vito Leccese debuts on the podium, continuing the success trail of his predecessor Antonio Decaro.

With the electoral autumn upon us – and not only in Tuscany, but also in Veneto, Marche, Campania and Puglia – the poll becomes a precious thermometer. It indicates the margins of consensus but also the areas of risk. For the center-left, Giani's performance can represent a solid basis for building a competitive candidacy in Tuscany. For the center-right, however, the issue of term limits (which has excluded Zaia in Veneto and could slow down De Luca in Campania) risks opening new fronts of internal conflict.

In the meantime, mayors continue to be – for better or for worse – the first interlocutor of citizens. The Governance Poll confirms this: those who govern locally are often judged based on their proximity and ability to address everyday problems. And if something doesn't work, the blame – rightly or wrongly – falls on their shoulders.

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