Regionals, ballot boxes open in Calabria for the challenge between Occhiuto and Tridico: here's how to vote

The Marche game having been archived with the confirmation of the outgoing governor Francesco Acquaroli of the centre-right, the spotlight shifts to Calabria where the vote is being held today and tomorrow (5 and 6 October 2025). The centre-right is fielding Roberto Occhiuto (FI), who resigned in July after being investigated in a corruption enquiry. There are eight lists in support: Forza Italia, Fratelli d'Italia, Lega, Occhiuto Presidente, Forza Azzurri, Noi Moderati, Democrazia Cristiana-Udc and Sud chiama Nord-Partito Animalista. For the centre-left (without Action, which also does not present a list in this region) runs Pasquale Tridico, M5S MEP and former president of the Inps, supported by six lists (Partito Democratico, Movimento 5 Stelle, Democratici e Progressisti, Casa riformista, Lista Tridico presidente and Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra). Meanwhile, there are some defections for Pasquale Tridico's closing rally. With him on stage will be Giuseppe Conte, who has returned to Calabria after the vote on the resolutions in the Chamber, but neither Elly Schlein (who could join in) nor Nicola Fratoianni, who will instead take part in the procession in Piazza Vittorio in Rome, will be there.

Voters may vote for a constituency list linked to the presidential candidate of their choice and, within this list, express up to two preferences, provided they refer to candidates of different gender. There is no disjointed voting, i.e. it is not possible to vote for a presidential candidate and at the same time choose a list supporting another candidate.

During SkyTg24's 'Il Confronto di SkyTg24' Occhiuto and Tridico - both in video link-up - did not mince words about work, health, and autonomy. The first 'duel' was on work. Tridico quoted Calabrian data - "the lowest employment rate in Europe, 48%" - and announced a "public recruitment plan, 3,000 workers for culture and 7,000 for the environment", while Occhiuto retorted that "hiring 7,000 foresters would not solve the problem", recalling the calls his government had put out for companies with reductions on recruitment.

Even louder were the tones on healthcare, a highly divisive topic. "It's a disaster, hospitals closed even with Occhiuto's support, other phantom ones and entire areas without assistance," attacked Tridico, who proposed a medical guard in every municipality. "He doesn't know the history or even the present," retorted Occhiuto, who cited the building sites "that I reopened" and started up "after they had remained on paper for 20 years". And then he counter-attacked: 'The commissioners appointed by the Conte government have not invested a euro nor hired a health worker'.

There were also strong differences on the Strait Bridge. Occhiuto described it as an attractor of other investments while Tridico branded the work as 'not an absolute priority'. Tridico reminded Occhiuto that he had voted in the Conference of the Regions together with the Lega Nord "who want to split the South" and his opponent replied that he had been the centre-right exponent "who had put the brakes on until the LEP had been defined".