From north to south, seven key electoral challenges are poised to ignite the political autumn, though by late summer, many alliances remain undefined.
Here is the regional breakdown:
**Aosta Valley:** Voting is set for September 28th, including for the Mayor of Aosta. However, with just a month and a half to go, only the centre-right coalition has a candidate (Giovanni Girardini). The autonomist and progressive parties, which have governed the capital for years, have yet to reach an agreement.
**Veneto:** The election date here is contingent on a resolution within the centre-right. While the progressive camp long ago selected Giovanni Manildo, the succession to Governor Zaia has resulted in an exhausting standoff between the League and Brothers of Italy. The only path forward is a negotiation table between party leaders, which is not expected until September.
**Marche:** Like Aosta Valley, it goes to the polls on September 28th and 29th. It is the only one of the ‘seven sisters’ to have confirmed both of its main candidates—Francesco Acquaroli (Forza Italia) and Matteo Ricci (Democratic Party)—though the centre-left’s confirmation was complicated by internal investigations.
**Tuscany:** Elections are scheduled for October 12th and 13th. The centre-left also faced a difficult path here but ultimately confirmed Eugenio Giani. An agreement between the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement was reached, but the rest of the reformist front has balked, for now scuppering plans for a unified ‘president’s list’. The centre-right appears to have chosen Alessandro Tomasi but will delay an official announcement until the Veneto situation is resolved.
**Campania:** There is no set election date and no agreements in either the centre-right or centre-left camps. The centre-right is quarrelling over its candidate (Edmondo Cirielli is the frontrunner but risks friendly fire from FdI), while the centre-left’s apparent agreement on Roberto Fico was immediately blocked by Vincenzo De Luca, who is determined to halt negotiations until his own demands are met.
**Puglia:** The picture is clearer, but not entirely resolved, for both main coalitions. The centre-right is expected to back Forza Italia’s Mauro D’Attis (with Andrea Caroppo or a civic list candidate also in the running). There is no doubt the centre-left will back Antonio Decaro, apart from Decaro’s own doubts concerning the complicating influence of figures Michele Emiliano and Nichi Vendola.
**Calabria:** Voting will be held on October 5th and 6th. A challenger to incumbent governor Roberto Occhiuto is still missing, pending a decision from Pasquale Tridico on whether to run. If he declines, the race reopens with a nightmare scenario: a last-minute scramble to submit lists, with a deadline in just 20 days.