Five-way challenge in Piedmont for the presidency of the region, Cirio the favourite

A five-way challenge in Piedmont for the presidency of the Region, the only one on the ballot in the 8-9 June electoral round. Alberto Cirio, outgoing governor, who has been Forza Italia's deputy national secretary for a few months now, is the favourite according to the polls. He is the candidate of the centre-right, challenged by Gianna Pentenero (Pd), supported by a centre-left coalition, Sarah Disabato, candidate of the 5 Star Movement, Francesca Frediani, running for Piemonte Popolare, and Alberto Costanzo, candidate of an alliance of lists under the name of Libertà.

In 2019 Cirio won by close to 50% against centre-left candidate Sergio Chiamparino. He is running for an encore with the support of four parties - Forza Italia, Fratelli d'Italia, Lega and Noi Moderati - and the lista 'Cirio presidente, Piemonte moderato e liberale'. The challenge to Cirio from the centre-left went through the unsuccessful negotiations to line up the wide camp: Pd and M5s stayed away from the agreement and each went their own way.

When an internal runoff seemed to be looming between Daniele Valle, vice-president of the Piedmont Regional Council, and Chiara Gribaudo, national vice-president of the PD, the Dems veered towards Gianna Pentenero, municipal councillor for Labour in the council led by mayor Stefano Lo Russo and former regional councillor. The centre-left candidate is supported by five lists: Democratic Party, Green Left Alliance, United States of Europe and two civic lists: Pentenero President, created by outgoing regional councillor Mario Giaccone and Piemonte Ambientalista e Solidale wanted by another outgoing councillor, Giorgio Bertola.

M5s has chosen Sarah Disabato, group leader in the outgoing regional council; Piemonte Popolare is running with Francesca Frediani, a former Pentastelite councillor; Libertà is the aggregation of 'anti-system' lists that is nominating Costanzo, a lawyer from Casale Monferrato (Alessandria) and former member of the National Alliance, for the presidency of the Region. The 'Liberta' coalition includes Sud Chiama Nord, Noi popolo unito, Grande Nord, Popolo della Famiglia, Movimento per l'Italexit, Vita, Partito Pensionati +Salute, Insieme Liberi.