Projections: centre-right towards victory in Venice. Cannizzaro (Reggio Calabria) and De Luca (Salerno) elected in the first round. Centre-left expels Pistoia

The cold shower. The vote in the municipalities dampened the euphoria of the progressive forces triggered by the 'No' victory in the referendum on justice. Two data weighed most heavily: the defeat in Venice and the falling turnout. For Pd secretary Elly Schlein, however, 'as a whole, albeit with all the specifics of the case, since it is a local vote' the result 'confirms that when we are united as a progressive camp we are competitive and we will be so in the next political elections'. With PD senator Andrea Martella, a very broad camp ranging from reformists to Rifondazione was convinced that it could wrest Venice from the centre-right in the first round. It did not turn out that way. On the contrary, outgoing councillor Simone Venturini is well ahead.

And then, there was the expectation about the turnout: after the referendum boom, a still growing participation would be read by the centre-left as anti-government. But the figure was around 60%, down five points from the previous round. In short, if the 15 million 'No' votes on the question on justice had given the progressive forces a glimpse of a downhill road towards the 2027 elections, after the vote in the municipalities the mantra was: 'Chill out'. As many exponents of the oppositions have been saying for some time: those votes should not be considered already in the dispensation, they have not yet been transformed into a 'driving force'. There is one caveat, however: the analysis cannot stop at Venice or the defeat in Reggio Calabria. 'We will have to do the accounts at the end,' said PD organisation leader Igor Taruffi. 'Before declaring victory or making national projections, let's wait to see the results of the 18 capital municipalities. There are several positive elements. Then, of course, there are also some results that do not leave us entirely satisfied'. Even for Iv president Matteo Renzi, 'to understand who will have won and lost this round of administration we will have to wait for the ballots in 15 days'.

In addition to Venice, the other challenge being watched is that ofReggio Calabria: Francesco Cannizzaro, supported by the centre-right and Azione, is given 70%, against the 25% of Domenico Donato Battaglia, until now in government of the city as an acting. The centre-left had counted on defeat. But not to such proportions. So much so that in the PD there are those who consider it necessary to reflect more deeply on the south and, in particular, on Calabria, where the administrative vote is yet another bell: the last ones were the defeat at the regional elections in 2025 and the 'out of the chorus' data of the province of Reggio at the referendum, with the Yes vote at 53%. If Venice and Reggio give sorrow to the progressive coalition, Tuscany consoles: there is the confirmation of Prato and then Pistoia wrested from the centre-right and Arezzo - another centre-right city - finished on the ballot. 'This electoral round offers chiaroscuro results,' summarised M5s vice-president Paola Taverna.

The notebooks of some parliamentarians then highlighted two results, Salerno and Enna, where Vincenzo De Luca and Vladimiro Crisafulli won - which someone jokingly dubbed 're-created': both are supported by the centre-left but the PD symbol does not appear among the forces supporting them.