In Umbria the centre-left is aiming for the stronghold of Perugia

The game in Umbria is on and the dems are focusing on two factors: Perugia’s vote and turnout. According to the national leaders most involved in the vote on 17 and 18 November, the center-left candidate and the center-right candidate are paired, with a slight advantage of outgoing governor, Donatella Tesei. A few tenths, but enough to worry the leading exponents of the centre-left. “We’ll play it away”, says a member of the Dem secretariat, referring to the fact that it is still the centre-right that governs, in the Region and at a national level. A leading exponent of Avs, conversing with reporters in Transatlantico, tries to play down the drama: “Terni? A beautiful city, friendly citizens, the food is good”. Then he lets himself go: “The truth is, I don’t know how it could end.”

The Bandecchi case

The reference to Terni is not accidental. The tip of the balance could be represented by the mayor of the city, Stefano Bandecchisiding with the centre-right front. At a national level, says a senior PD representative, it doesn’t bring much in terms of consensus. This was seen during the match in Liguria. But it has its roots in Umbria. If this rooting isn’t enough, Bandecchi assures: “I certainly don’t beg for votes, at most I buy them or take them by force.” The sentence was written on the social channel of the mayor of Terni.

The outcry from the center-left was immediate. M5s and Avs ask Donatella Tesei, center-right candidate for the presidency of the Umbria region and also supported by AP, to distance herself. Not only that. The deputy of the 5 Star Movement, Emma Pavanelli, will present a complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office, “so that the investigative bodies can ascertain whether Bandecchi’s conduct could constitute some type of crime”. With his phrase Bandecchi “what does he mean? There is an open electoral campaign and Bandecchi claims to buy votes or worse to take them with arrogance? Does it mean that he pays the voters or threatens them?”, asks Elisabetta Piccolotti, Umbrian deputy of Green Left Alliance. The issue was brought to the attention of the Chamber by Avs deputy group leader Marco Grimaldi: “Minister Pianted should check with the prefect of Perugia whether there has been a buying and selling of votes”. Those of Bandecchi, he adds, “are unacceptable words, the Interior Ministry shed light on them”.

Objective: fill up in Perugia

On the other hand, Schlein and his team aim to maximize the result in Perugia, where the broad centre-left coalition won less than six months ago with Vittoria Ferdinandi. The same coalition supports today Stefania Proiettimayor of Assisi with a strong Catholic character. A cultural background that led her to speak out against the end of life and to propose social workers for women who want to have an abortion. A false start, in the words of a centre-left deputy. Since then, however, the Democratic Party observes, Proietti’s campaign has become more brilliant, also highlighting some of the difficulties of governor Tesei. Like on healthcare. And it is no coincidence that during her electoral tour in the Region, the secretary Elly Schlein has focused decisively on this theme.

The other string in the dem’s bow could be that of participation, if Schlein’s operation to call voters to vote works. “One more week to convince all Umbrians to reclaim their destiny”, we read in a post by the secretary who will return to Umbria, probably to Perugia, on Thursday 14th. And also the other leaders, Giuseppe Conte first of all, they will be in the region to push Proietti’s candidacy. The president of the Five Star Movement will be involved in four stages tomorrow: in Terni, where he will participate in the sit-in against the incinerator, in Marsciano, Foligno and Perugia.

However, there will not be the grand finale of the electoral campaign with all the leaders on stage. It’s no use, explains a Democratic leader: it’s more useful to go to small towns, divide ourselves into every area of ​​Umbria to convince the undecided. The same choice was also made for Emilia-Romagna, where the centre-left’s advantage seems unassailable. Also in this case it was decided to avoid crowding the leaders on stage: Michele De Pascale would have been the first to not be enthusiastic about the idea. The mayor of Ravenna, candidate for the presidency of the Region, has been careful in recent months not to ‘politicise’ the electoral campaign, sticking to local issues. A choice similar to the one made by Alessandra Todde last March, when she was elected president of Sardinia. Secretary Schlein will be in Emilia-Romagna, the region that saw her political birth, tomorrow. First in Ravenna, at 5pm. Then with De Pascale in Reggio Emilia.