Campania regional elections, Mastella backs the deal with Fico: "Enough sirens, I'm the Center."

Benevento – In an already heated election campaign for the Campania regional elections on November 23-24, Clemente Mastella, the mayor of Benevento and a charismatic leader of Italian centrists, has committed himself to the "broad field" of the center-left.

After days of pressure from the center-right and internal friction within Roberto Fico's coalition, the former Minister of Justice filed his "Noi di Centro-Noi Sud" list with the Benevento Court this morning, with the names of Pellegrino Mastella (his son) and Giovanna Razzano in the Sannio constituency.

A move that seals the alliance with Fico, the center-left's presidential candidate, and which Mastella defends with his usual cutting verve: "We will support Roberto Fico and the center-left in the regional elections. I didn't want to listen to any more sirens, because Clemente Mastella can't be good and handsome only when he's craving support."

Speaking to reporters gathered outside the courthouse, in a windy, autumnal Piazza Umberto I, Mastella spared no digs at those who accused him of turningcoat. "I am Clemente Mastella, always," the former Justice Minister thundered, "and I won't let anyone pull me by the jacket.

When Fico was elected President of the Chamber, he also received the votes of the centre-right on the fourth ballot.

This accusation echoes recent controversies within the center-left in Campania, where Fico—fresh from Gaetano Manfredi's endorsement—is trying to consolidate a broad but fragile front, including the Democratic Party, Five Star Movement, and civic groups, against center-right candidate Stefano Caldoro or other variables like Cateno De Luca. Within the political galaxy of Mastella, who defines himself as the "ideal and identity-defining flag" of the Center, the "Noi di Centro-Noi Sud" list is positioning itself as a strategic "hyphen" within the coalition:

"I represent the Center," the Benevento mayor continued, "and I'll proudly raise it again now. We safeguard democracy as a plural form and political balance in the broader arena, positioning ourselves just before the hyphen that defines the center-left coalition."

This message comes at a key moment: just yesterday, internal sources were talking about a meeting in Melizzano between Mastella, Fico, and Manfredi to resolve issues regarding the candidacies, while on the other side, Edmondo Cirielli (Brothers of Italy) attempted a final push to "close the gap" and bring centrists closer to the regional EPP.

Mastella's move numerically strengthens Fico's package, which is targeting eight lists to maximize seats, but it also reignites the debate over "liquid" alliances in Campania, a region where moderate voters have always been kingmakers. With today's filing, the campaign is entering its prime time: between promised councilors for the inland areas and promises of a "special unit" for the Sannio region, Fico will be able to count on a Mastella who, to paraphrase his own words, won't let himself be "pulled by the jacket." But in politics, as the former Minister of Justice knows well, the sirens can always reappear on the horizon. For updates on the race to the polls, follow our live coverage.