Polls open on Sunday 7 and Monday 8 June in 41 municipalities with over 15,000 inhabitants for the second round of municipal elections. Here, the candidates’ ability to broaden consensus beyond traditional coalitions will be tested. And it will be above all the run-offs in the six provincial capitals voting (Agrigento, Arezzo, Chieti, Lecco, Macerata and Trani) that will allow a final assessment of the electoral round. The most important challenge, that of Venice, saw the (unexpected) confirmation of the centre-right in the first round, which also snatched an important provincial capital like Reggio Calabria from the broad field. The centre-left was consoled by the victory in Avellino and the reconquest, after nine years, of Pistoia. And now it is focusing on the run-offs to make this electoral round less bitter.
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According to Youtrend’s counts, the centre-left won in the first round in 37 municipalities, compared to 59 outgoing mayors. The centre-right in 25 (out of 42). In the 18 provincial capitals, the balance currently sees the centre-left ahead with seven mayors (out of eight outgoing). The centre-right has won three (out of five outgoing). In two centres, civic candidates or candidates from other parties have emerged.
In Chieti, the centre-left starts with an advantage
In Chieti, after a centre-left administration, Giovanni Legnini, the centre-left candidate leading with 47.2%, and Cristiano Sicari, supported by all majority forces except the League (27.5%), are challenging each other in the run-off. But if the centre-right entered the first round divided, in the second there was an alliance: Sicari reached an agreement with the lists that supported Mario Colantonio (16.64%) in the first round, including the League’s list. He also made an agreement with the centrist lists that supported Alessandro Carbone (4.76%). So, it’s an open game on paper.
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In Agrigento, the centre-right remains divided
The centre-right was also divided in the first round in Agrigento. But here there were no alliances. Competing for the mayor’s seat are Michele Sodano (progressive camp), leading with 39.1%, and Dino Alonge, supported by Fi-Fdi-Udc and autonomists with 34.8%. The difference could be made by the voters of the candidate who placed third: the League’s Luigi Gentile (14%), also supported by Dc and Noi moderati. But Gentile refused alliances or political agreements. Although the regional commissioner of the League, Nino Germanà, invited people «not to vote for the centre-left». Meanwhile, Noi moderati declared support for Alonge.
In Arezzo, centrists do not take sides
In Arezzo, after a centre-right administration, the contest is between Marcello Comanducci (centre-right) and Vincenzo Ceccarelli (centre-left). The latter is 11.45 points behind his challenger, and the unknown factor of outgoing centrist votes weighs heavily. The civic candidate Marco Donati, also supported by Azione, had gathered over 20% of the votes in the first round, but for the run-off, he did not want to give voting indications. A cold shower for the progressives, whose comeback seems more arduous.
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