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In the intricate dance of regional politics, as Parliament delays the third mandate norm once more, some governors are introducing a stealthy chess move: postponing elections. On the surface, it appears as nothing more than a "technical" proposal, yet it's causing a stir among the center-right and reviving long-held suspicions.
Leading the charge is Vincenzo De Luca, Campania's governor, who's formally requested to shift the regional vote scheduled for autumn 2025. His reason? To prevent the electoral deadline from derailing a torrent of PNRR-funded projects.
De Luca's request landed on the desk of Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Conference of Regions and governor of Friuli, who convened an emergency videoconference meeting. On the agenda: the potential risks associated with a change of legislature smack dab in the middle of PNRR deadlines. At stake in Campania are hospitals, Community Houses, environmental works, transport, and the massive Campolattaro dam in Benevento, worth a hefty 750 million euros.
The meeting had mixed reactions. Joining Fedriga were Eugenio Giani (Tuscany), Marco Marsilio (Abruzzo), Francesco Roberti (Molise), and several delegated assessors. While some acknowledged the problem raised by De Luca - the risk of ending up in a provisional budget just before the European deadline of June - others had already taken action. Veneto, for instance, where the Constitutional Court has already made it clear the polls should open by November 23. Tuscany, too, with Giani ready to call the citizens to the polls in October. Or Marche, where the election momentum is already building, with votes scheduled for September.
In essence, De Luca's proposed delay would only affect three regions with polls due by the year's end: Campania, Puglia, and Valle d'Aosta. A small number to make a trend, some might say.
Fedriga, who vowed to bring the issue to the government's attention, tried to maintain harmony among the differing opinions: "There was a debate - he said - where the majority of regions understood the risk raised by Campania, about the possibility of these regions ending up in a provisional budget. It's an issue we need to address, because it would mean stalling administrations for months in such a delicate period." The political clarification followed: "I've read that someone is connecting all this to the third mandate, but it has nothing to do with it. In the Conference of Regions, it was never even brought up. It seems that now a part of the political spectrum sees the ghost of the third mandate in anything that is done." Yet the suspicion lingers. For the persistent coincidence between the request for postponement and the stalemate on the norm regarding the re-election of governors - De Luca first and foremost - is too apparent to be overlooked. Especially under the watchful eye of Giorgia Meloni, who's been vigilant against delaying votes since the get-go.
For Prime Minister Meloni, upholding institutional deadlines is a principle matter. It's in this standoff that a conflict between the leaders of the majority could surface as early as next week.
- Amidst the ongoing debate about regional politics and policy-and-legislation, Vincenzo De Luca, Campania's governor, has stirred general-news with his proposal to postpone elections, sparking concerns about potential risks during PNRR deadlines.
- The politics involved in the delay of elections, initially perceived as a technical proposal by some, has revived long-held suspicions and became a hot topic of discussion in policy-and-legislation, with Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister, emphasizing the importance of upholding institutional deadlines.
