The latest news on the regional elections in Veneto: the candidates in pole position for the post-Zaia era

Venice, June 27, 2025 – Eyes on the regional elections in Veneto after the halt to the third term for the presidents of the Region. The center-left is trying to capitalize on the divisions within the center-right, renegotiating the territories, the boundaries of the alliances in view of the vote next autumn.

In Veneto , the agreement between the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement responds to the candidacy of Giovanni Manildo , former mayor of Treviso from 2013 to 2018, known for having beaten the Northern League's Gentilini at the polls.

Alberto Stefani (Lega) and Giovanni Manildo, former mayor of Treviso. The latter would have the support of the PD and M5S

In Giuseppe Conte's party, much will depend on today's meeting of the National Council of the Movement, the body responsible for approving strategic choices, with the very crux of the agreements for the Regionals at its core, but the "civic" solution represented by Manildo should not encounter obstacles.

The former mayor, after having received the support of the Democratic Party , is waiting for the green light from the other parties in the coalition to make his candidacy official.

In the center-right, however, they are sailing by sight, although there is no shortage of contenders to succeed President Luca Zaia . "Given the ruling class it has on the territory, Fratelli d'Italia is able to express an excellent candidacy", points out the Veneto coordinator of the Melonian Luca De Carlo , among the names circulating for the succession to the "Doge" if Giorgia Meloni were to claim the candidacy for her party.

"The Zaia era is over", he specified. Then he extended the timing of the "game" in progress: "The best will be chosen. The timing? Just before or just after August".

But the League in turn is banking on the "good governance" of the Zaia administration to claim, in continuity, the choice of the name to nominate.

The most popular candidate at the moment, if the League were to win, is Matteo Salvini's deputy, Alberto Stefani. While the centrists are also asking at this point, as UDC Antonio De Poli is doing, to stop with the individual tests of strength and to quickly identify the candidate: "Now we need to choose a candidate president and open a discussion on the contents".

Looking at the national picture, for now the only certain candidacy in the center-right is that of Francesco Acquaroli, who is seeking an encore in the Marche.

For the others there are various hypotheses but the solution can only be found by untying the knot of Veneto. While regarding the future that awaits Zaia, at the end of an administration in office for 15 years, rumors of a possible candidacy for mayor of Venice are becoming insistent but a government nomination that is hypothesized at the top of a large public company cannot be ruled out.