Italy’s Right-Wing Coalition Rallies Behind Cirielli in Campania Regional Election
Edmondo Cirielli, the right-wing candidate backed by Italy’s government, has pledged to provide an extra €100 a month to residents receiving the minimum pension in Campania. This promise was made in a video post on X, where Cirielli, 61, stated that the monthly pension top-up would come from regional funds. The move is part of his election campaign for the upcoming regional elections in Campania, where he is facing off against Roberto Fico, a member of the left-wing Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S).
Cirielli’s election pledges also include boosting employment and halving waiting times in the public health service in the southern Italian region. He has vowed to resign “with immediate effect” if he fails to achieve 50% of his aims after two and a half years in office. The candidate has been backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and deputy premiers Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, who attended a major election rally at the Palapartenope stadium in Naples.
Cirielli’s Campaign and Opposition
Cirielli, a senior member of Meloni’s right-wing Fratelli d’Italia party, will face Fico, who is backed by the M5S and the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD). Fico, 51, served as president of the Italian chamber of deputies from 2018 to 2022 under former premier Giuseppe Conte. Both candidates are seeking to replace the outgoing PD governor of Campania, Vincenzo De Luca, 76, who has served two terms and cannot seek a third mandate.
Meloni launched a stinging attack against De Luca and Fico during the rally, criticizing their governance and policies. She urged the crowd to spread the word about Cirielli, stating that there was “an alternative to failure, to cronyism, to mockery, to fried fish [festivals] to gain votes, to turncoats, to those who have given up everything just for the seat of power.” The “turncoat” label was reserved for Fico, who Meloni accused of joining the very system he once criticized.
Key Election and Predictions
A recent poll predicted Fico would win 53% of the vote in Campania, compared to Cirielli’s 42%. However, Meloni insisted that “predictions can be proved wrong.” Tajani expressed confidence that Cirielli would be Campania’s next governor, while Salvini saw a “wide open” race that “can be won.” The government is keen to wrest control of Campania from the left, having won several regional elections since coming to power three years ago.
The Campania elections will be held on 23-24 November, along with regional votes in Veneto and Puglia. The outcome is expected to have significant implications for Italy’s political landscape. For more information, visit Here to stay updated on the latest developments in the Campania regional election.