Milan: another candidate for the (possible) centre-left primaries – Goisis enters the race

If politicians fail to make a decision, potential candidates step forward on their own initiative. History is repeating itself in Milan, where, whilst waiting for the parties to make up their minds about the upcoming local election campaign – which will effectively get underway in September – some representatives of the ‘civic movement’ have decided to take the initiative. The latest to do so is Tommaso Goisis, who could be described more as an ‘activist’ than a politician, with experience on the staff of Giuseppe Sala’s city council and a background as an Airbnb manager; he is known as an expert in public policy.

His independent candidacy will go ahead if there are primaries. This is by no means a foregone conclusion, but he is nevertheless calling for them in no uncertain terms: on Monday he collected 350 signatures and submitted his independent candidacy, bringing together 500 people in Piazza Sicilia in Milan last Monday.

Goisis is 36 years old and has worked for various local authorities. During Sala’s term of office, he worked as a technical adviser to councillors Chiara Bisconti and Gabriele Rabaiotti. He previously worked in the institutional relations team of the Department for Digital Transformation within the Prime Minister’s Office. In 2021, he founded the association “Sai che puoi?” to encourage citizen participation in Milan. “I want to stand in the centre-left primaries,” he says in a statement. In his view, at a time of “great disillusionment with political engagement, primaries to choose the mayor are necessary”. Among the priorities he has outlined are the vision of a “fairer, more inclusive society that is closer to the people” and “investment in young people”.

Goisis has his own small but dedicated following in Milan; however, the real test will come in September, when the centre-left coalition – and above all the PD – will have to decide which path to take: that of primaries or that of a single candidate. And even if the decision to hold primaries is confirmed, they will have to decide how many candidates would be appropriate, so as not to fragment the coalition too much or create confusion amongst voters.

These are all questions that the centre-left is postponing until the national political landscape becomes clearer – that is, until the date of the general election or a possible snap election is known. The proximity of the local elections to the national elections gives further cause for reflection.