Naples - As the deadline for submitting lists approaches—set for tomorrow at 12:00 PM—the race for the Campania regional elections, scheduled for November 23rd and 24th, is heating up. The provincial courts have been the venue for the filing of nominations that will determine the contest between the center-right candidate, Edmund Cirielli, and that of the center left, Roberto Fico.
Institutional Curiosities and Errors
There has been no shortage of controversial episodes. The candidate Mary Rosaria Boccia, who ended up at the center of gossip for a karaoke duet with Stefano Bandecchi, immediately wanted to emphasize the need for a policy "of content and not of gossip".
An oversight risked compromising the candidacy of the former Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano: the error in the lists initially indicated he was born in 1862, an inaccuracy quickly corrected that allowed the politician to confirm his role as head of the list for the Brothers of Italy.
The candidate Cirielli, a former Carabiniere, surprised by nominating a former colleague of his as head of the list and by including the lawyer Angelo Pisani, known for being the legal historian of Diego Armando Maradona.
The Coalitions and the Names in the Field
The two main coalitions each field eight lists supporting their respective candidates.
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For Edmondo Cirielli (Centre-Right):
- Four main parties: Brothers of Italy (FdI), Forza Italia (FI), the League, and Us Moderates.
- Four additional lists: the civic 'Cirielli Presidente', Christian Democracy with Rotondi, UDC, and Consumers-Pensioners.
For Roberto Fico (Centre-left):
- The broad parties: Five Star Movement (M5S), Democratic Party (PD), and Alliance of the Greens and the Left (AVS).
- Five civic and minor lists: 'Fico Presidente', Noi di Centro-Noi Sud (led by Clemente Mastella), 'A Testa alta' (an offshoot of outgoing President Vincenzo De Luca), Casa Riformista (which unites Italia Viva, civic representatives and associations, with the contribution of the Mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi), and the socialist list 'Avanti Campania'.
The Phenomenon of the 'Sons of'
A cross-party element for both sides is the massive presence of "children of", that is, close relatives of already established politicians or important institutional figures:
| Line-up | Candidate Name | Family Bond |
| Center-right (FI) | Rosaria Aliberti | Daughter of the Mayor of Scafati, Pasquale Aliberti. |
| Center-right (FdI) | Francesca Marino | Wife of the Rector of the Federico II University, Matteo Lorito. |
| Center-right (FdI) | Ione Abbatangelo | Daughter of former MSI parliamentarian Massimo Abbatangelo. |
| Center-left (Iv) | Armando Cesaro | Son of former Provincial President Luigi Cesaro. |
| Center-left (NDC-NS) | Pellegrino Mastella | Son of Clemente Mastella. |
| Center-left (Socialists) | Giuseppe Sommese | Son of former regional councilor Pasquale Sommese. |
| Center-left (De Luca) | Rossella Casillo | Daughter of the President of Soresa. |
| Center-left (De Luca) | Victoria Lettieri | Daughter of the Mayor of Acerra. |
The presence of wives, children, and brothers of experienced politicians highlights a tendency towards turnover that often passes through the family dynasties of Campanian politics.
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