Regional elections in Basilicata, at 11 pm the turnout was 37.74 percent – Voting in Basilicata

The turnout of Lucanian voters in the regional elections in Basilicata is at 37.74 percent, where voting will also take place on Monday, from 7 am to 3 pm. In 2019 the turnout at the closing of the polls was 53.52 percent but that was also the final percentage, because voting only took place on Sunday. In the province of Matera the first day of voting ended with a turnout of 40.98 percent (56.03% in 2019); in the province of Potenza the turnout was 36.31 percent (52.40 percent five years ago). In Potenza, at 11pm the percentage was 49.92 percent (68.79 percent five years ago); in Matera it was 41.66 percent (in 2019 it was 59.89 percent). The low turnout – at least so far – makes the confrontation between the centre-right and centre-left even more contested.

The group that supports Vito Bardi, re-nominated by the center-right “extended” to the parties of Calenda and Renzi, is counting on the work done by the candidates gathered around the seven symbols that appear on the ballot paper delivered to the voters. Five symbols support the centre-left presidential candidate, Piero Marrese, who mainly relies on the alliance between the Pd and M5s. There is curiosity to understand how much consensus Eustachio Follia, Lucanian leader of the European political movement Volt, will gather. And therefore, between an electorate that did not crowd the 682 sections set up in the region and a prediction on the outcome of the vote still to be clarified, a curiosity and a controversial episode animated the first day of the elections. The curiosity concerns a tray of sweets for breakfast brought to a polling station in Lagonegro: it’s a pity that the white cardboard package had the “holy card” of a candidate from the centre-right coalition attached. A last-ditch attempt to gather some votes? It’s hard to believe but this curiosity then sparks controversy. “Basilicata Casa Comune” – a list of the centre-left coalition – harshly attacked the candidate portrayed in the image, saying that “every ethical and legal boundary has been crossed”.

In recalling that “the law requires respecting the neutrality and integrity of voting places, guaranteeing that every citizen can freely express their choice without external influences”, the list defined the arrival of the “branded” lunchbox as “a serious attempt to influence voters with gestures of courtesy” which are transformed – precisely due to the presence of the “holy card” – of “an illegal act”. On the edge of the joke, the words of Enzo Amendola (Pd) who complimented Marrese for the “smile” shown at the polling station where the aspiring president of the Region voted. “Well done Piero Marrese, I would have also published the photo of Piero’s main opponent, but has Bardi already voted?”.

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