The Democratic Party in Campania it not only holds, but advances. The hope of being able to improve on the result of five years ago finally turned into reality. According to the first data, the Dems seem to be at percentages from which they can start again to open a wide-ranging political reasoning, in view of the Regional elections in Campania and the next administrative challenges. At the same time, there is work to be done on the construction of the so-called broad camp in the center-left, which however will need solid foundations to avoid the continuous in-out of the M5S.
In the shadow of Vesuvius, it was an intense day experienced by the local leaders of secretary Elly Schlein’s party. Everyone attentive to the ups and downs of turnout, equipped with abacuses for the appropriate predictions. Because – this is the Piddini reasoning – the decline in the polls has particularly affected the former Third Pole (Renzi and Calenda), somehow bringing out the muscles of the Democratic Party. A result that gives a clear picture compared to previous European elections: the Democratic Party in 2019, among the Dems there were still Matteo Renzi and Carlo Calenda, reached 17.88 percent in the Southern constituency (19.1 percent in Campania). Today, raising the bar means above all giving a signal to the national secretariat, of a Democratic Party that not only works well in the South, but still manages to create consensus. The strong push for the Dems in the South, as well as in Naples and Campania, came from powerful candidacies such as those of Antonio Decaro (who should have a number of preferences one step lower than the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni), of the leaders Lucia Annunziata, the journalist Sandro Ruotolo, the outgoing Pina Picierno and the more political candidacy of Lello Topo. But it is clear that the result of the mayor of Bari, supported by all the centre-left administrators, must also be read from a national perspective. Decaro will have a double role: to act as a barrier to the bill on differentiated autonomy and to broaden the boundaries of the Democrats. In addition to the passing of the baton to the mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi as number one of the Anci. However, the person who has decided to stay out, or at least very far away, from the electoral dispute is the governor Vincenzo De Luca. No assists came from him to the centre-left, much less to the Democratic Party.
«The partial data gives us a Democratic Party strongly strengthened in the role of the only possible center of gravity for a broad national centre-left, on the model of the one that wins and governs in Naples and the metropolitan area» comments the regional councilor of the dem Massimiliano Manfredi, who insists: «The first exit polls above all give the Democratic Party a leading role in the South, at the height of the conflict with the Government, which wants to hit us with differentiated autonomy, the blocking of FSC funds and the reprogramming of the Pnrr. Voters point to Antonio Decaro as a symbol of the South’s battle against the Meloni government, who was able to unite the Democratic Party and the centre-left, but also to speak to many disappointed people who did not vote for the Democratic Party.” The Neapolitan deputy and former provincial secretary, Marco Sarracino, underlines: «We are talking about an absolutely positive result for the Democratic Party. A clear sign that Elly Schlein is leading the opposition to Giorgia Meloni’s right with strength and credibility. Anyone who bet on the defeat of the Democratic Party will be disappointed. Now, together with the other opposition forces, we continue the path of alliance and build common projects.”
The Dems fought in this short – but intense – electoral campaign for “the release of development and cohesion funds” and for “the minimum wage”, not forgetting themes with a more European focus: peace, in light of the many conflicts (on all the Russian-Ukrainian one) and the need for a stronger and freer EU institution – in foreign policy and common defense -. But electoral analyzes always have a territorial implication. «I think we fought well – claims the metropolitan secretary dem Giuseppe Annunziata -. The work done in recent months and having maintained clear positions on many issues has certainly been appreciated by our voters. We must insist on a path of unity for the Democratic Party.” On the Pd-M5S axis Annunziata tries to look at the moon and not the finger: «An initial feedback will come from the administrative offices in the province of Naples. Our hope is that the coalitions built together with the 5S will be rewarded.”
