Bari administration, three-way challenge for the runoff between Pd, M5s and Lega

A seat for three, with a good chance that the game will end in extra time. At the Bari municipal elections, the centre-left, after 20 years of government, is divided and thus offers an assist to the centre-right. The chances that the new mayor will be decided in the runoff are, therefore, high. Pd and M5s have failed to reach an agreement, after the primaries were also blown with 48 hours to go before voting in the gazebo.

The effect of thejudicial earthquake and the three criminal investigations for vote swapping, including political-mafia, which prompted, last April, Giuseppe Conte and the mayoral candidate Michele Laforgia himself to cancel the challenge with the Dem candidate, Vito Leccese, former chief of staff of Antonio Decaro, who is leaving after two terms at the helm of the municipality (he is candidate at the European elections). It should not be forgotten that the municipality is at risk of being dissolved for mafia infiltration. In fact, the access commission appointed by the Viminale (the Italian ministry of the Interior Ministry) is carrying out its investigations, launched to verify the possible infiltration of organised crime in the municipality.

In the meantime, the Bari progressive front has shattered, unlike the centre-right, which has found unity with the name of the Lega Nord member Fabio Romito. After 20 years of opposition, therefore, the centre-right will try to regain the majority in the city council by betting on the young regional councillor but already with a lot of political experience behind him, and on no less than ten lists. As happened in other municipalities, the League will not present its own symbol, instead there are Fratelli d'Italia, Forza Italia, Udc and Noi Moderati.

The centre-right will try to exploit the split in the progressive front: on the one hand, Vito Leccese, chosen by the PD, can count on seven lists in his support, including the Greens who have divorced from Sinistra italiana; on the other hand, Michele Laforgia, six lists, bishop of M5s, Sinistra italiana and other civic groups. At the last moment, Italia Viva pulled out, but included some of its exponents in the lists supporting Laforgia.

There are two outsiders: Sabino Mangano, former municipal councillor of the 5 Star Movement from 2014 to 2019 who leads the Oltre list that groups four associated civic movements; and Nicola Sciacovelli, municipal councillor for ten years who presents two civic lists, 'Sciacovelli mayor-Ci piace! and 'Noi per Bari-Italexit for Italy for Sciacovelli mayor'. In the Apulian capital there are around 850 candidates for the municipal council, and if we also consider the five municipalities this rises to almost two thousand.