European elections, Abruzzo left empty-handed: only Antonella Ballone can hope for a seat

Of the 14 Abruzzo candidates running for the European elections, only the businesswoman Antonella Ballone can hope to enter Parliament. The Democratic Party, the first party in the southern constituency, sees Manola Di Pasquale in eleventh place on the list: the most voted among the Abruzzo people in the opposition.

There may not be any Abruzzo people in the new European Parliament in Brussels, but the last word hasn’t been said yet, because Antonella Ballone, president of the Gran Sasso Chamber of Commerce, in the Southern constituency, she established herself with 41,890 votes, placing fourth overall in the Forza Italia list. Without counting Tajani, the leader of the forces, the businesswoman would be the first of the non-elected, after Fulvio Martusciello and Giusi Princi. If one of the two were to leave the position they had won, therefore, Antonella Ballone would have her own seat in Brussels. However, it appears clear that, in addition to a low turnout, the Abruzzo candidates have failed to convince and win over the electorate. We remember how, in the previous legislature, Abruzzo was represented by Elisabetta De Blasis: who had been elected, at the time, with the League and was among the eligible candidates in the shortlist of Fratelli d’Italia, the party of which, following the Euro-election, she became part.
The Marsican cardiologist was the big one excluded at the last minute among the FdI candidates for the European Parliament. This is her comment, in the aftermath of the results of the European elections, which would seem, for now, to leave Abruzzo orphaned of representation in Brussels. “In two months I will return my badge and, with extreme sadness, we note today that Abruzzo, due to the wicked choices of some, will return to being a ‘region that almost never has an MEP’. It was probably easy for that someone to trample on me, but the fact remains that I was the first center-right MEP from this region that I love and for which I will continue to work, politically and beyond.”

Returning to the numbers, in Abruzzo Fratelli d’Italia confirms its strength by winning 33.33% of the preferences and dragging the centre-right, followed by the PD at 20.35%. For Forza Italia arrives 10.82% of the votes, at 7.95%. League. The positive result is also surprising Greens-Left Alliance, which with 26545 votes obtained 5.25% of the preferences, placing itself immediately behind the Northern League. It also dates back to 5 Star Movement, coming close to 12%, compared to the 7% obtained in the recent regional elections. There are 30961 preferences obtained by Nicola D’Ambrosio, also among the most voted Abruzzo people, ninth in the list of Fratelli d’Italia. There was another Abruzzo candidate with Fdi, Giovanna Greco: for her the votes were 7523. Among the ranks of Forza Italia, however, in addition to the important result reported by Antonella BalloneL’Aquila obtained 11,473 preferences Eliseo Iannini, placing 11th on the list. Instead, 6432 preferences were taken home by Laura Cucchiarellarunning with the League.
The Democratic Party, the leading force in terms of votes in the southern constituency, sees Manola Di Pasquale in eleventh place on the list – but third most voted in Abruzzo, behind only Decaro and Annunziata – thanks to its 18248 votes. Ninth and tenth place among the 5 Stars for candidates from Abruzzo Fabio Stella and Valentina Corneli, who obtain 11370 and 11060 preferences respectively.

Seventh Giulia Persico for the Greens-Left Alliance, with 5632 votes. Per Share, Libera D’Amelio obtains 6424 preferences, while Maurizio Acerbocandidate with Pace Terra Dignità – the journalist’s list Michele Santoro, placed second: despite the list not having exceeded the threshold to enter Parliament. Finally, 1374 preferences were won by Ilaria Leonardis, always nominated with Pace Terra Dignità; 1377 those obtained by Dino Rossi (Freedom) and 633 per Paolo Della Ventura (Peace Earth Dignity).