Stalemate in Europe. But Italy Looks to Umbria and Emilia
During the week of November 4–12, the European Parliament held hearings for the designated commissioners of the new European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen. Six executive vice-presidents, including the Italian Raffaele Fitto, were among the last to be examined on Tuesday. While most of the hearings concluded positively, certain nominations revealed significant tensions among the political groups of the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists, and Liberals.
Specifically, the EPP was accused of collaborating with far-right forces, such as Spain’s Vox party, to block the appointment of Teresa Ribera, the candidate for Executive Vice-President for Climate Transition. Moreover, Raffaele Fitto’s candidacy continues to raise concerns among the Socialists, who fear excessive conservative influence on European policies. To avoid “mutual vetoes” among political groups, the evaluations of the six candidates for executive vice-presidencies have been frozen and postponed indefinitely, delaying the inauguration of the new European Commission initially scheduled for early December.
Thus, uncertainty looms over the final composition of the Commission and, more broadly, over the stability of the pro-European majority supporting Von der Leyen. Essentially, the new European Commission is at a standstill: Liberals, Greens, and Socialists have declared that, under the current conditions, they will not approve Fitto, while the EPP threatens to reject the two candidates most valued by their allies – Socialist Teresa Ribera and Liberal Kaja Kallas. Progressive groups are likely aiming to pressure von der Leyen to downgrade Fitto to a “simple” commissioner. However, the choice to nominate the Italian figure as vice-president reflects the President’s need to maintain good relations with the Italian government and expand the majority backing the Commission, even if only on specific issues. Conversely, the EPP seeks to force the Spanish government to replace Ribera with someone else, potentially redistributing portfolios so that Socialists do not control such influential roles.
Domestically, Italy’s attention is on the upcoming regional elections in Umbria and Emilia Romagna, taking place on Sunday, November 17, and Monday, November 18. This marks the end of a heated campaign marked by controversies and tensions. These elections serve as another test of the government majority’s stability and the strength of opposition alliances, following recent developments in Liguria. However, they also represent distinct local contests closely tied to the specific circumstances of each region.
In Emilia Romagna, the center-left is fielding Michele De Pascale, the mayor of Ravenna, while the center-right has put forward Elena Ugolini, a former undersecretary in the Monti government with long-standing ties to Communion and Liberation. In Umbria, nine candidates are running, but the real battle centers on two women: the outgoing governor, Donatella Tesei of Lega, who has the entire center-right behind her (including Terni Mayor Stefano Bandecchi and his Popular Alternative), and Assisi Mayor Stefania Proietti, from the civic Catholic sphere, who has gathered all the minority forces alongside support from various civil society lists and the CGIL trade union.
According to a YouTrend national poll, Fratelli d’Italia has risen to 28.8%. Lega stands at 8.9%, while Forza Italia is at 9.1%. Among opposition parties, the Democratic Party is at 22.7%, and M5S has climbed to 11.9%. AVS is at 6.3%. Carlo Calenda’s Azione is polling at 2.4%, Matteo Renzi’s Italia Viva at 2.2%, and +Europa also at 2.2%.
