Voters in Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region likely to favour populists
Today, voters in Italy’s northeastern Friuli-Venezia Giulia region will head to the polls to elect their regional government. The vote comes nearly two months after an inconclusive general election where no party won a clear majority of parliamentary seats. The populist Five Star Movement (M5S), however, did secure 32% as the single largest party.
Italy’s main political parties will turn to this regional election as an indicator of what the people seek for their leadership. Coalition talks have not progressed between the right-wing Lega and M5S, both of which have Eurosceptic and anti-immigration platforms.
The centre-left Democratic Party had refused to ally with other parties altogether, but acting leader Maurizio Martina has opened the door to working with M5S. The two parties have begun negotiations, but many supporters of both parties distrust the other.
However, with Lega expected to win today’s vote, the right will likely continue to argue it should lead the government and may continue talks with M5S if the negotiations with the centre-left fail. Expected continued uncertainty, and any eventual government to only follow a limited shared agenda between parties.
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