Venturini’s Venice Win Boosts Meloni Coalition
Giorgia Meloni’s centre-right coalition has secured an important political victory in the Venice mayor election 2026, with candidate Simone Venturini winning the race despite earlier surveys showing a possible centre-left advantage. The result has given Meloni’s alliance a timely boost ahead of Italy’s next general election.
Venice Mayor Result 2026
Venice was one of the most closely watched contests in Italy’s latest round of local elections. The city has been under right-wing control for nearly 10 years, but recent opinion polls have suggested that the opposition could challenge that hold.
However, Venturini won nearly 51% of the vote, while his main rival secured around 39%. Since he crossed the 50% mark, Venturini avoided a runoff and confirmed another term for the centre-right camp in Venice.
Boost For Meloni Coalition
The local polls were held across more than 600 towns and cities, making them an important test for Meloni’s government after its March justice referendum setback. The Venice win has helped the ruling bloc counter the opposition’s claim that the centre-right was losing ground. The result is important because it shows the Meloni coalition still has strong local support, even after the March justice referendum setback.
Other results showed a mixed picture across Italy. Vincenzo De Luca returned for another term in Salerno, Federico Basile won again in Messina, and the centre-right also performed strongly in Reggio Calabria. With Italy’s national election due next year, the Venice result is being viewed as a key morale boost for Meloni’s coalition.
