While the coronavirus is on the rise again, Italians voted Sunday and Monday on a referendum reducing the number of parliamentarians, but also to elect presidents of regions like Tuscany, a left-wing bastion for half a century including an alliance of the right dreams of seizing.
Read also: Italy: the left threatened in its stronghold of Tuscany
This Sunday in the early evening, the participation rate was estimated at 30%.
For this very first poll organized since the pandemic, the reluctance of voters could weigh on the crowds in the polling stations, open Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., but also Monday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Voters must vote on a national referendum on reducing the number of parliamentarians.
This M5S electoral promise should a priori materialize.
The number of elected officials would then drop from 945 to 600. Italy has the second largest parliament in Europe, behind the United Kingdom (around 1,400) and ahead of France (925).
The League, Fratelli d'Italia and Forza Italia
Six regions - four on the left (Tuscany, which will be particularly scrutinized, Campania, Puglia and Marche), two on the right (Liguria and Veneto) - must also elect new presidents.
With single candidates, the alliance between center-right and far-right could triumph in the “red” regions where scattered left-wing candidates are aligned.
This would inflict a severe rebuff on the government of Giuseppe Conte, a coalition formed a year ago between the 5 Star Movement (M5S, anti-system) and the Democratic Party (PD, center left).
The right-wing coalition is made up of Matteo Salvini's League, Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and is united in all regions.
All observers have their eyes riveted on Tuscany, a “red” stronghold since the post-war period, where polls show candidates from left and right in a pocket handkerchief.
Read also: The Italian right to attack the regions
Italy recorded 1,628 new cases and 15 deaths on Saturday.
Contagion is transmitted in two thirds of cases within families, from the youngest to the oldest, raising the average age.