Voting Results in Trentino-Alto Adige: A Shift Towards Change?
In Trento, center-left parties secure another triumph at the Comunali elections.
In the recent local elections in Trentino-Alto Adige, a total of 265 municipalities had their mayors and city councils up for renewal, including the capitals Trento and Bolzano, currently managed by the center-left. Six mayoral candidates were in the race for each city.
As the votes were counted, it became clear that Franco Ianeselli, the incumbent mayor of Trento, was set for re-election with a substantial lead of over 54%, having beaten the center-right challenger Ilaria Goio by 28 points. In Bolzano, however, a runoff voting on May 18th was inevitable, with the center-right candidate Claudio Corrarati leading the pack with 36.3% of votes, against the outgoing PD assessor Juri Andriollo who trailed behind with 27.3%.
If Corrarati emerges victorious, he would be the first center-right mayor to lead Bolzano in over twenty years. Given the current political climate and local issues, the results could mark a significant change in the city's governance.
Voter Turnout Drops Significantly
One noticeable trend in the election was the significant drop in voter turnout. The single voting day held on a bridge weekend was likely a contributing factor for the low turnout. In Bolzano, only 52.16% of voters casted their votes, compared to 60.65% in 2020 when voting was held over two days. The drop in turnout was even more pronounced in Trento, with voter turnout falling 11% to just over 49.93%.
At the provincial level, voter turnout in Alto Adige was 62.9%, compared to the 65.4% recorded in the last municipal elections held five years ago. Meanwhile, Trentino saw a more substantial decline in voter turnout, with only 54.53% turning out to vote, nearly 10% less than the 64.08% turnout rate in 2020.
While some municipalities, such Vignola Falesina, saw a turnout as high as 90.16%, there were others like Novaledo and Samone that struggled to reach 30%. The low voter turnout may indicate a general sense of discontent or dissatisfaction with the current political landscape, driving voters to seek out new leaders.
Single-Candidate Municipalities Reach Quorum
Despite the low voter turnout, 84 out of 85 single-candidate municipalities in Trentino saw their quorum met as they had only one mayoral candidate running. Notably, fifteen of these were women. Unfortunately, Cimone did not reach the threshold and will be placed under administration.
Potential Historical Shift in Bolzano's Leadership
The situation in Bolzano is quite different, where a return to the polls in two weeks is necessary. The center-right candidate for mayor, Claudio Corrarati, formerly the president of Cna, is currently in the lead with 36.3% of votes, ahead of the outgoing mayor Juri Andriollo who trails behind with 27.3%. For the upcoming runoff on May 18th, Corrarati will need the support of the Svp, which should not be too difficult given their current governance together in the province.
If Corrarati wins, he would become Bolzano's first center-right mayor since Giovanni Benussi, who was narrowly elected in 1998 but was forced to resign due to a lack of majority in the council. "First of all, I would like to thank the Bolzano voters for this great result that sets us, for the first time in twenty years, clearly ahead as a center-right coalition," Corrarati commented. "If the data confirms this trend, it would be a historic result, expressing the desire for change among Bolzano voters, which can be definitively realized on May 18th through their vote," he added, expressing his gratitude for the voters' trust and urging them to "continue working together to change our beloved Bolzano."
Challenger Andriollo is already preparing for the runoff by focusing on winning over undecided voters and encouraging those who did not vote in the first round to participate in the upcoming runoff. Should he secure the win, he has started discussing possible alliances to help navigating the city's governance.
The upcoming runoff election will be crucial in determining the direction of Bolzano's governance and its broader impact on the region. The potential shift towards a center-right leadership in Bolzano could have substantial implications for the city and the Trentino-Alto Adige region as a whole.
- The average voter turnout in Trentino-Alto Adige experienced a notable decrease, with both provinces experiencing a drop compared to the previous election.
- The significant drop in voters, especially in Trento, may suggest a general dissatisfaction with the current political landscape and a desire for change among the electorate, as indicated by the substantial lead of the incumbent center-left mayor in Trento and the potential historical shift towards a center-right leadership in Bolzano.
