In Italy, the wind continues to blow politically from the right – as in other European countries. The commentators are now arguing whether the second and final round of the local elections at Pentecost was still a breeze or already a storm. What is certain is that the right-wing camp, which has also governed the country as a whole since last fall, has won almost everywhere.
Five of the seven provincial capitals standing for election won the right, some triumphantly. Catania and Ragusa had already fallen to her in the first round. The left is particularly hurt that it has lost its traditional stronghold of Ancona. It remains for her Vicenza – where the narrowly successful candidate, the moderate social democrat Giacomo Possamai, characteristically recently asked his party leadership to stay out of the election campaign. In the formerly red cities of Tuscany, the leaders of the right-wing parties who came into office five years ago have been confirmed in office; there can no longer be any talk of a one-off protest election.
The Italian model could set a precedent
Election analyzes immediately made references to other European countries and to the 2024 European elections. The right generally see themselves on the rise. The Italian model, according to which the conservative Forza Italia and the right-wing populist Lega (have to) coalition with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s partly openly post-fascist Fratelli d’Italia in order to be able to govern, could catch on.
In the short term, the vote on Sunday and Monday calls into question the new leadership of the social democratic Partito Democratico (PD). It was striking that in a country where many politicians talk a lot without really saying anything, PD leader Elly Schlein, 37, didn’t mince words and clearly admitted her defeat. The up-and-coming politician, who only won the party leadership last spring in a campaign against a moderate “Realo”, is considered a great talent in Italian politics. She reinvigorated her PD and led the party further and further to the left, but lost some well-known figures who were not prepared to go down this path. Now she has to realize that with this course she is primarily able to retain young, progressive voters, but has so far not been able to win majorities in the country.
“You can’t win alone,” says Social Democrat Schlein
Schlein himself has already identified a culprit: the other parties on the left spectrum. “You can’t win alone,” she said, and that was primarily aimed at former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who now leads the former ruling Five Star Movement party and does not want to submit to the larger Social Democrats. In general, the leftists have so far often marched separately, while the three right-wing parties join forces when necessary and agree on one candidate.
The big winner of the elections is Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Her Fratelli d’Italia performed particularly well, giving Meloni further advantages in the showdown with her coalition partners. Gone are the days when it was widely expected that the other two party leaders, Matteo Salvini and Silvio Berlusconi, would quickly dump their inexperienced colleague.
On the contrary, it is now assumed that Meloni is stepping up the pace, especially towards Lega leader Salvini. Forza Italia is currently not a dominant player in the field anyway due to the serious illness of their father Berlusconi, who does not want to give up the leadership of the party yet. Meloni is pursuing the project of changing the constitution with the aim of strengthening the position of the head of government, who could then be directly elected by the people.