Alessandra Todd (M5S-Pd) is the new President of Sardinia. He won the regional elections in a photo finish by 3 thousand votes more than the centre-right candidate Paul Truzzu, mayor of Cagliari. Todde received over 330 thousand votes, equal to 45,3% against Truzzu's 45%. It is the first time that a woman becomes President of Sardinia but, paradoxically, it is a sensational defeat for the first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, which imposed, against the opinion of the League, Truzzu's candidacy. In fact, the decisive factor was disjoint vote which Meloni's allies practiced en masse: yes to the centre-right lists, but no to Truzzu. In fact, the centre-right received more votes overall than Truzzi and more votes than the centre-left.
“The wind is changing” the leaders of the Five Star Movement immediately commented Giuseppe Conte who imposed and obtained the candidacy of Todde and the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, who agreed to support the Five Star candidate to strengthen the so-called broad camp. The result of the former President of the Region was good but not sufficient, Renato Soru, which received 8,7% of the votes but which due to the 10% barrier foreseen by the regional statute will not enter the Council.
Let's not forget that the Sardinian elections are still local elections and that therefore their effect on the national political framework is limited even if in the past the defeat in the regional elections at the end of the nineties led the then prime minister Massimo D'Alema to resign.
Certainly something will change: Sardinia demonstrates that Meloni is not invincible and that its relations with its allies are at an all-time low. They will skip the stop sign at third term for the Presidents of the Regions and for the mayors and the premiership? It's too early to say but we'll know soon.
