Venice and beyond: Right-wing coalition holds strong in mayoral races

Voters in Venice just handed Meloni’s coalition an unexpected win—despite polls earlier this month suggesting the left was ahead. Simone Venturini, the center-right candidate, secured over half the votes with 51%, avoiding a runoff and keeping the city under right-wing leadership for another term. This was the first big local election since Italy’s national government lost a key justice vote in March. Many saw those losses as a sign of weakness for the ruling party, but the Venice results tell a different story. Across over 600 towns and cities, Italians cast ballots in a snapshot of national mood ahead of next year’s general election. Some races were easy calls—the center-left’s Vincenzo De Luca cruised to a fifth term in Salerno, while a non-aligned candidate won in Messina. In Reggio Calabria, the center-right broke a decade of left-wing control. These outcomes show how fragmented Italian politics still is, with no single force dominating the map.Back in Venice, the vote wasn’t just about mayoralties. Earlier this year, questions arose when Russian officials attended the Venice Biennale, sparking debates about culture and geopolitics. The right’s victory there suggests voters still trust Meloni’s coalition despite recent bumps. One senior party member even argued that opponents arrived expecting a big upset only to find reality didn’t match their predictions. As the country prepares for its next big vote in 2027, these local results might hint at what’s to come. With rival blocs neck-and-neck in polls, every town counts—and Venice’s mayoral race proves surprises can turn up anywhere.