Basilicata to vote, turnout falling to 37.74%: why Salvini and Schlein are the leaders who risk the most

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The regional elections in Basilicata on 21 and 22 April will be a test not only at a local level, but also with repercussions at a national level. In the centre-right it will be an appointment to test above all the comparison between Forza Italia and the League. In the centre-left, however, the alliance between the Pd and M5S is being tested, with the five-star leader aiming to get as close as possible to the Dems to compete for the leadership of the centre-left. At 11pm on Sunday 21 April the turnout was 37.74%, with one in three voters at the polls.

Turnout down 15.78% compared to 2019

In the 2019 electoral round, at 11pm on Sunday 24 March, 53.52% of those entitled to vote had voted. It should be noted that the previous elections took place only on Sunday while for these votes the polling stations were also open on Monday from 7am to 3pm.

Lega-Fi tensions

Between Lega and Forza Italia, tension has risen in recent weeks, with the former aiming to accelerate theAutonomy and the latter who ask for guarantees for the southern regions. Then there are the recent disagreements Venetowith the Italian coordinator and former Northern League member Flavio Tosi who complains regarding the fact that Fi has no positions on the council (Fi however only has two representatives in the Regional Council).

Salvini’s risks

Added to this are the League’s not brilliant results in the regional elections Sardinia (3,7%) e Abruzzo (7.6%), always surpassed by Forza Italia. A result that might be replicated in Basilicata, where among other things the Azzurri enjoy the support of their candidate for governor (Vito Bardi is from Fi). Fi aims to exceed double figures. If the Northern League were to fall below the psychological threshold of 5% (at the October 2022 elections it was close to 9%) in the League the uneasiness towards Salvini’s leadership would worsen.

Conte undermines Schlein

In the centre-left, tensions are, if possible, exacerbated by the daring methods with which the candidacy of Piero Marrese (Pd). La leader Pd Elly Schlein managed to save the alliance with the M5S, but had to break with the centrists of Action and Italia Viva, precisely at the request of the M5S leader Giuseppe Conte. If in the end the votes of the centrists were to prove decisive for the victory of the centre-right, Schlein would return under fire from the reformist minority of the Democratic Party. Even more so if a loss of votes were to be added to this which would lead the M5S to close behind the Democratic Party (if not surpass it).