Regionals in Calabria: Forza Italia first with 18%, Pd holds, M5s disappointment. Here's how the parties fared

Forza Italia is the big winner in this round of regional elections in Calabria, which have seen the triumphal confirmation of the outgoing governor Roberto Occhiuto. Fi, with 18%, is not only the first party in absolute terms but also obtains something more than in 2021. The second list of the centre-right coalition is that of President Occhiuto with over 12%, followed by Fdi - third at 11.6% - and the League at 9.4%. In the centre-left, on the other hand, neither the PD nor the M5s take off, which remain more or less on the same figures as four years ago, when, however, it was Luigi de Magistris who drained 16% of the votes to the common candidate.

Fdi, the first party in the region in the European elections of 2024 (20.6%) and in the political elections of 2022 (19%), only strengthened compared to the regional elections of 2021 (8.7%), while Forza Italia consolidated its position compared to the regional elections of four years ago (17.3%), and obtained a result that is all the more significant because the 'Occhiuto presidente' list also registered 12.4%. The Azzurri are accustomed to excellent performances in Calabria, always in double figures both in the European elections (18%) and in the political elections (15.6%). The League also did well, improving on the previous regional elections (8.3%) and political elections (5.7%).

In the centre-left, the PD (13.6 per cent) is rather stable compared to the 2021 regional elections (13.2 per cent) and the 2022 parliamentary elections (14.4 per cent). Although for PD organisation manager Igor Taruffi, right-hand man of secretary Elly Schlein, the party is growing because 'the PD has presented itself with two lists, the party's and the Democrats and Progressives', and the result of the two lists is around 20 per cent, up compared to the last regional elections'.

While Tridico's candidature did not drive the list vote for the M5s (6.4%), which was stable compared to the 2021 regional elections (6.5%). But if we consider that in the 2022 political elections the M5s had the extraordinary result of over 29% in Calabria and that at last year's European elections the bar was set at 16%, the conclusion is only one: whether in the case of a Pentastellist candidate or a Pd candidate, at the local elections M5s voters tend to stay at home. Although the good result of the Tridico list with 7.4% should be emphasised.

Noteworthy is the flop of Avs, which with 3.85% remains below the 4% threshold and does not even elect a regional councillor.