May 4th Voting in Trento's Province: Over Half of the Municipalities Feature a Single Mayoral Candidate
Elections in Trentino Alto Adige on Sunday, May 4, 2025:
Brace yourselves, folks! In just a few days, on Sunday, May 4th, from 7 am to 10 pm, the people of Trentino Alto Adige, a region filled with 432K citizens, are called to make their voices heard as they renew their mayors and city councils. The drama unfolds in the provincial capitals of Trento and Bolzano, both held by the center-left and eager to see who'll take the reins this go-around.
From Pandemic Early Days to Today
It's been four and a half years since the last vote, with the last election delayed until September of 2020 due to the pandemic. Some administrators argued that a shortened mandate of less than five years was unfair, but the Trento Regional Administrative Court (TAR) ruled otherwise, setting the date for the municipal elections as May 4, 2025. If no mayoral candidate achieves more than 50% + 1 of the valid votes, the polls will reopen two weeks later, on May 18th.
One Candidate or a Packed Race?
Looking at the numbers, the majority of those voting in Trentino will head to one of the 154 municipalities, over 119 of which have fewer than 3K inhabitants. In about 54% of these, there's only one candidate to challenge the quorum, while 254 candidates and 355 lists are vying for votes in total.
The Battle for Trento
Trento, home to more than 102K voters, is a city with a lot at stake. Here, six candidates, 15 lists, and 578 hopefuls are eyes on the prize. Five years ago, there were eight candidates, with the Italy's General Confederation of Labor (CGIL) secretary general, Franco Ianeselli, taking the win, backed by a broad coalition of six lists.
This year, the center-right is divided: Fratelli d'Italia, Liga, and Forza Italia put their weight behind Ilaria Goio, an entrepreneur, while the provincial government, made up of autonomist, civic, and territorial forces, has its own candidate, Andrea Demarchi, who is only 26. Also competing are Giulia Bortolotti, a former Ianeselli ally and candidate for Onda Civica, Movimento 5 Stelle, and Rifondazione Comunista, as well as Claudio Geat, running under the Generazione Trento banner, and Simonetta Gabrielli, candidate of the Sovereign Democracy and Popular movement.
Bolzano's Turn
Bolzano, with over 81K residents, will also cast its votes. The race consists of 111 municipalities and 281 lists. Bolzano itself has 13 lists competing for 403 candidates for the city council. The six candidates vying for the position of mayor include Juri Andriollo, the current PD municipal assessor, backed by the PD, Greens, Socialists, and Italian Left, and Claudio Corrarati, who was once the head of the South Tyrolean CNA crafts association, representing the right (supported by FdI, Civic for Bolzano, Forza Italia, and Liga). The votes of the SVP, the South Tyrolean People's Party, the historic Alto Adige party, which has the current deputy mayor Stephan Konder as its candidate, are likely to be the deciding factor in the probable runoff on May 18th. If things go as expected and there are no shocking upsets, the political landscape after the reform agreement with the Meloni government and the SVP's provincial governance with the right will shape the outcome.
As for other specific candidates, their political allegiances can be best found in local news sources or official announcements from the region.
[1] Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (PATT) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trentino_Tyrolean_Autonomist_Party[3] South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Tyrolean_People's_Party
- In the upcoming municipal elections on May 4, 2025, the Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (PATT), a key player in Trentino politics, is expected to present its candidates for various municipalities, aligning with their policy-and-legislation agenda.
- The postponement of the municipal elections in 2020 due to the pandemic had an impact on the municipalities in the Trentino region, with many policy decisions being prolonged, particularly those related to municipal salvage policy and infrastructure development.
- As the general news surrounding the municipal elections unfolds, it is becoming clear that the municipalities of Trentino Alto Adige will witness a vibrant political landscape, with a total of 254 candidates and 355 lists vying for votes, representing a range of political perspectives from center-right to center-left.
- With the elections fast approaching, municipalities in Trentino Alto Adige are gearing up for a potential policy shift, as mayors and city councils from various political backgrounds vie for the votes of the region's 432K citizens, shaping the political landscape for the next five years.
