Schlein sets his sights on the regional elections: after the administrative elections, the government will face Meloni.
Towards the elections next autumn
Six regions are voting, but Schlein has much more at stake: the alliance with the 5 Star Movement and the challenge to the right-wing government in the 2027 general election.
When historic issues are on the table, from ongoing wars to trade disputes, it's natural that far greater issues, such as next fall's regional elections, will be overlooked. Those elections, however, are crucial to the internal balance of power, and it's no surprise that political leaders, between international summits, remain focused on the six regions that will vote in September.
For Elly Schlein 's Democratic Party , they represent a major political investment. Predictions point to a clear victory for the center-left, and this alone would be a crucial step for Elly, as it would launch the long march toward the 2027 general elections, including the highly likely referendum on the constitutional reform of the justice system . It's an open challenge, and it goes without saying that arriving there with an opposition galvanized by a near-full sway in the regional elections would have its weight in the referendum and then, especially in the event of a government defeat, in the general election. But the importance of the upcoming elections, for Elly Schlein, isn't just this. It should be the first time the Democratic Party-M5S alliance appears not in a patchy fashion, but everywhere. A debut marked by electoral victory would be the best start to the long rush that will begin immediately after these regional elections and continue until the next general election.
Precisely because the test has a political and psychological significance that transcends the very important political positions at stake, Schlein is proceeding with extreme caution. Last Tuesday's four-hour meeting with outgoing Tuscany president Giani sealed his re-candid candidacy and the defeat of those who had sought to replace the governor at the last minute: first and foremost, Marco Furfaro , who was so close to the secretary that it raised serious doubts that, with due discretion, she was the one hoping to oust the outgoing governor. In any case, the maneuver failed, and Giani is already the center-left candidate for Tuscany. Except that the secretary preferred not to make it official. Her reticence is easily explained. The Democratic Party leader is waiting until she can announce an agreement with Conte everywhere. That common front doesn't yet exist in Tuscany, and it's lacking because Campania is still up for grabs. The conclusion of the game in Vincenzo De Luca 's reign is therefore decisive from many points of view , including the irreversible step forward of the Pd-M5S-Avs coalition that Schlein is aiming for.
Conte is waiting for the green light for Roberto Fico , former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and a long-standing candidate. The obstacle is De Luca. The governor doesn't want Fico, while he would be more open to Sergio Costa. The real weight a De Luca forced to resign is uncertain, just as it's unclear what he would do, especially if Fico were to succeed, which remains the overwhelmingly likely candidate. But while there's doubt, the Democratic Party is negotiating; the green light doesn't change for Fico, and consequently, Conte, who has Trump-like skills in negotiations, also blocks the Tuscany race. The outcome of the contest would likely not impact the final outcome. The game is too uneven in both regions, as it was for De Caro in Puglia, to warrant any suspense.
From a political perspective, however, the possibility of fielding a center-left coalition for the first time is crucial, even if it hasn't yet been definitively confirmed by Conte, who will be begging until the last possible moment. The right—to avoid having to settle for its Veneto stronghold—is forced to focus on the confirmation of the outgoing governor of the Marche region , Acquaroli , who, despite Calenda's defection, is in serious danger against Matteo Ricci . And in Veneto, too, things are far from smooth sailing. Zaia continues to hope for a postponement of a few months, and the president of Friuli and the Regions, Fedriga, has attempted to secure a postponement until spring 2026 by threatening to be unable to close the regional budgets. The response from FdI was blunt: " The governors at risk should have thought about it sooner."
A specific law is possible, but a postponement is not. But Veneto is a war zone for gangs: Tajani is pushing for former Verona mayor Tosi, the local FdI (Italian Federation of Independents) is not at all resigned to losing a presidency it had already been eyeing, Zaia is aiming to place his own fully trusted candidate, and Salvini is aiming for the opposite outcome: to reclaim the white region, which until now had been Zaia's sole personal preserve. In any case, Zaia is determined not to loosen his grip on Veneto . The option he has in mind, one that is driving the entire center-right mad, is to run at the head of the list that will bear his name, with the aim of at least draining the reserves of FI and the League proper. The matter is expected to be discussed today at a majority meeting, but last night it was still unsettled. Veneto will certainly remain on the right. Which right, however, remains to be seen.
l'Unità
