Calabria's Regional Council disbanded after Mr. Occhiuto's resignation
In the upcoming Calabria regional elections, scheduled for October 5th and 6th, 2025, Roberto Occhiuto, the incumbent president from Forza Italia, is seeking re-election. However, the South remains a challenge for Occhiuto, as he risks not winning any governor this time, with a number of potential contenders vying for the position.
Roberto Occhiuto has defended his early election call, stating that it is necessary to continue his ongoing projects and rejecting claims that it is an attempt to avoid judicial issues. He emphasizes his record on issues like waste management and infrastructure. The opposition, on the other hand, criticizes the center-right for neglecting healthcare and urgent reforms.
One of the main potential candidates challenging Roberto Occhiuto is Victoria Baldino of the Five Star Movement (M5S). Baldino aspires for the Five Star Movement to lead a broad progressive coalition including support from the Democratic Party and AVS. Other possible contenders from the M5S include Pasquale Tridico and Anna Laura Orrico.
The election follows Occhiuto’s resignation that led to the dissolution of the regional council, forcing a political crisis. The center-left is considering several possible challengers to Occhiuto, including Nicola Irto (PD regional coordinator), Pasquale Tridico (Europarliamentarian), and Anna Laura Orrico (former undersecretary).
The goal now is for Fratelli d'Italia to reverse the balance of power, aiming to at least match the 16% of the votes they obtained in the 2022 elections. However, initial findings suggest that the contestable consensus is part of Forza Italia's.
Fratelli d'Italia sees this move as a political opportunity to potentially win another region in the elections. An internal challenge within Fratelli d'Italia is being initiated to crack Forza Italia's dominance, led by Undersecretary Wanda Ferro, Alfredo Antoniozzi, Fausto Orsomarso, and Ernesto Rapani.
Meanwhile, AVS is showing signs of discontent, as they have no flag candidate of their own in the autumn Regional elections. Occhiuto has secured the support of Giorgia Meloni for his candidacy in the upcoming elections.
Roberto Occhiuto, in his defense, reaffirms that he "has worked alongside magistrates, on purification, the construction of new hospitals." The resigning president of the regional council of Calabria, Roberto Occhiuto, seeks early elections to avoid a health investigation involving him, stating that he has "perfect consciousness - he adds - that I will be acquitted."
In summary, the key parties and stances are:
- Roberto Occhiuto (Forza Italia, center-right): Incumbent seeking re-election, emphasizing leadership and continuity of work.
- Victoria Baldino (Five Star Movement, progressive coalition): Aiming to lead a united left/progressive coalition to challenge Occhiuto.
- Democratic Party and AVS: Supporting the progressive coalition and Baldino.
- Other potential M5S candidates: Pasquale Tridico and Anna Laura Orrico.
- Fratelli d'Italia: Aiming to reverse the balance of power and potentially win another region in the elections.
The electoral competition appears open with heavy political maneuvering, the center-right defending its incumbent’s record and the progressive side proposing new leadership emphasizing social issues and governance reform.
- War-and-conflicts: The electoral competition in the Calabria regional elections is intensifying, with heavy political maneuvering and potential power shifts at stake.
- Policy-and-legislation: The progressive side, led by the Five Star Movement and the Democratic Party, is emphasizing social issues and governance reform in their campaign, contrasting with the incumbent, Roberto Occhiuto, who is focusing on his record of leadership and continuity of work.
- Crime-and-justice: Roberto Occhiuto, the incumbent president from Forza Italia, has defended his early election call, stating that it is necessary to avoid a health investigation involving him, while reaffirming his efforts in combating corruption and supporting magistrates in their work.
- General-news: In the upcoming Calabria regional elections, scheduled for October 5th and 6th, 2025, a number of key parties and stances are vying for the regional presidency, including Roberto Occhiuto (Forza Italia), Victoria Baldino (Five Star Movement), Nicola Irto (PD regional coordinator), Pasquale Tridico (Europarliamentarian), Anna Laura Orrico (former undersecretary), and Fratelli d'Italia.
- Politics: Fratelli d'Italia sees the upcoming elections as a political opportunity to potentially win another region, initiating an internal challenge within their party to crack Forza Italia's dominance, led by Undersecretary Wanda Ferro, Alfredo Antoniozzi, Fausto Orsomarso, and Ernesto Rapani. Meanwhile, the Autonomie Venete per il Sì (AVS) is showing signs of discontent, as they have no flag candidate of their own in the autumn Regional elections.
