Regionals, tensions between allies weigh on nomination delays: here are all the unknowns

From north to south: there are seven challenges ready to ignite the autumn of politics. The alliance between the Democratic Party and the M5s, after the freedom of Conte himself to the Dem Matteo Ricci's race in the Marche against the outgoing governor of Fratelli d'Italia Francesco Acquaroli (despite the Public Prosecutor's investigation on Ricci), knows no more exceptions. But in late summer, the two centre-right and centre-left coalitions have still not managed to define all the understandings. Apulia is grappling with Michele Emiliano who does not want to know about taking 'a step to the side' and Antonio Decaro who, as a result, does not take a step forward. In Calabria, which votes in early October, there is still no challenger to outgoing governor Roberto Occhiuto. In Veneto there is still the tug-of-war between the League and Fratelli d'Italia over who should be the successor to Luca Zaia. Who in turn is keeping everyone in suspense over the presentation of a list of his own. In addition to all this, there is also Toscana which, if it records the agreement reached for the support of Eugenio Giani signed by the PD and the 5 Star Movement, sees the rest of the reformist front (Azione, +Europa, Pri and Psi) split and fail to reach an agreement for a single list 'of the president'. Candidatures to be defined also in Campania.

Bearing in mind that for Puglia and Veneto (as well as Campania) the dates of the vote are still missing - the call to the polls at the end of November is now a foregone conclusion for these regions - the search for a solution for Calabria, where the deadlines for submitting lists and candidates expire on 5 and 6 September, appears particularly urgent.

The main game is being played in Veneto, all within the centre-right. While the progressive camp has long since chosen Giovanni Manildo, the post-Zaia era has seen a gruelling tug-of-war between the League and Fdi. Matteo Salvini's party takes it for granted that it will be the Lega's turn to express Zaia's successor (no longer a candidate), while Meloni's party does not fail to recall, as the regional coordinator Luca De Carlo does at regular intervals, that "Veneto is the region in which" Fdi has obtained "the best results at a national level". Giving way, therefore, would be 'an act of extraordinary generosity' for 'a party with 37% towards another with 15%'. The only way identified to resolve the whole game is the table between national leaders only expected in September.

In Calabria they go to the polls on 5 and 6 October. There is still no challenger for Roberto Occhiuto (who re-elected himself after the unexpected anticipated resignation), while waiting for Pasquale Tridico - M5s MEP - to dissolve his reserve and decide whether or not to run. For the Calabrian centre-left, therefore, two roads are open: the first, decidedly the smoothest, sees Tridico give his willingness with the coalition to converge quickly on him, closing in cascade all the other dossiers. Decidedly more tortuous and difficult to read is the path that would see Tridico pull back. Because if the Dems would not object to him, they do not seem to want to hear about other Pentastellist candidates.

In Tuscany, voting will take place on 12 and 13 October. Here, too, the centre-left had an obstacle course, which in the end confirmed Eugenio Giani. And on Monday, 18 August, the Pd-M5s agreement was approved. The centre-right seems to have chosen the mayor of Pistoia Alessandro Tomasi, but postponed the official announcement until the Veneto game was over. -