Regionals, what happens in Campania and Veneto after the stop to the third term?

The day after the consulta's ruling on the third mandate that put an end to the era not only of Vincenzo De Luca at the helm of Campania, but also to that of Luca Zaia at the helm of Veneto, the League is pressing: 'The regions we govern remain ours'. The Zaia succession is the most delicate knot in the next round of regional elections. The one that could put the coalition in serious difficulty, with the Veneto Liga in turmoil and Fratelli d'Italia aiming at the leadership of a northern region. In the meantime, time is being taken, at least until it is clear whether it is really possible to postpone the Veneto elections to spring 2026 (compared to the natural deadline of autumn 2025), so as to allow Zaia to cut the ribbon for the Milan-Cortina Olympics. There are conflicting national and regional regulations on this point, and investigations have been ongoing for weeks.

The hypothesis that has been gaining ground in recent weeks is that Meloni will eventually let go and leave Veneto to her ally, subject however to a strong rebalancing of the junta in favour of Fratelli d'Italia. After the halt to Salvini's return to the Viminal, keeping the League happy, beyond the regionals, is crucial for government stability and the continuation of reforms. And Zaia himself has threatened more than once to present a list in his name against a possible non-League candidate. In pole in Veneto are Zaia's deputy Elena De Berti and above all the party's deputy secretary and Salvini doc Alberto Stefani. The quid pro quo for Fratelli d'Italia should be Lombardy, Salvini's home, but where they will vote in 2028, after the political elections: there is time.

In Campania, on the other hand, Vincenzo De Luca has no intention of stepping aside after the Consulta's ruling that, by establishing the unconstitutionality of the regional law on the third term of office, barred his way to a possible confirmation as president. And he aims to assert his weight in the centre-left coalition, especially in the choice of candidate. It remains to be seen whether he will accept the step to the side without demanding anything else and above all whether he will support the common candidate of the wide camp, which in Campania should be the M5S: either the former president of the Chamber Roberto Fico, on whom the Movement is pushing, or the former Conti minister Sergio Costa, who would seem to be more to the liking of the Deluchians.

Among the possible scenarios is also the one that - in the event of a failure to reach an agreement with the centre-left - would see De Luca in the field with his own list in support of a candidate of his own. A hypothesis to be avoided, many say, in order to prevent a fragmentation of the wide field that would be lethal.The pontiere in the field is the commissioner for Campania Antonio Misiani, who is pushing for the formation of a list of Deluchians in support of the common candidate. On Monday, the Nazareno will send the national head of organisation Igor Taruffi and that of local authorities Davide Baruffi to Naples. For the centre-right, the Melonian deputy foreign minister Edmondo Cirielli is in pole position.