Liguria, Bucci wins by a narrow margin over Orlando. Pd first party, M5S collapses

After the neck-and-neck until more than halfway through the ballot between Marco Bucci and Andrea Orlando, the centre-right candidate won by a narrow margin in the race for the presidency of the Liguria region. At the end of the polls Bucci (mayor of Genoa) wins with 48.8% against Orlando's 47.4%. The gap between the two is only 8,424 votes. Bucci (whose first words were: 'I will be the president of all Ligurians') overcame with 60% in the province of Imperia (in the capital the mayor is Claudio Scajola) and also won in that of Savona. Orlando, from La Spezia, is ahead in that of Genoa (in the regional capital with an eight-point lead over Bucci) and La Spezia.

At the level of list voting, the Pd is the first party in Liguria at 28.5%, almost doubling Fratelli d'Italia at 15.1% (which gives up almost 12 points compared to the European elections last June, to the advantage of the two civic groups supporting Bucci). They are followed by the Civic Bucci president at 9.5%, the Lega at 8.5%, Forza Italia at 8%, the Verdi-Left Alliance at 6.2%, the Orgoglio Liguria Bucci president at 5.7%, the Civic Andrea Orlando President at 5.3%, the M5S at 4.6%. Remarkable is the thud of the Movement, which was at 10% in the European. Beppe Grillo did not vote. This was confirmed by the president of the polling station in Sant'Ilario (the town in Genoa where the comedian lives). The founder and guarantor of the M5s, by now total clash with Giuseppe Conte, did not show up at the polls.

According to the final data provided by the Ministry of the Interior (here the turnout data), the turnout was 46%, more than seven points lower than in the 2020 regional elections (53.4%). As for the provinces' data, the highest turnout was recorded in the metropolitan city of Genoa where 48.29% voted. This was followed by the province of La Spezia (47.23%). Then Savona (43.74%) and Imperia (38.10%)%. At the 2020 regional elections, the turnout in Genoa was 53.48%, in La Spezia 54.16%, in Savona 55.10% and in Imperia 50.20%.

Congratulations to Marco Bucci for his victory in the regional elections in Liguria! Once again, the united centre-right has been able to respond to the expectations of citizens, who confirm their trust in our policies and the concreteness of our projects'. Thus on social media the premier and leader of FdI Giorgia Meloni. 'With his leadership, Liguria will be able to count on a capable and determined administrator, ready to work tirelessly for the good of all Ligurians,' Meloni added. 'Forward, together, with the same dedication that guides our action throughout Italy.

"The PD has given its all. We are aware that we are not enough. We are aware of the difficulties of the others and we hope that this result will make all the alternative forces to the right reflect, as it makes us, who have not spent a minute in polemics or competitions with the other oppositions, reflect. Because our opponent is this right wing that we want to beat'. This was the comment of Dem secretary Elly Schlein.