Live coverage of the by-elections in Calabria: Roscioli is in the lead

The centre-right candidate Fabio Roscioli, treasurer of Forza Italia and very close to the Berlusconi family, is well ahead in the by-election in Reggio Calabria for the seat in the Chamber of Deputies vacated by Francesco Canizzaro, who became mayor of the Calabrian city last June. According to figures provided by the campaign committee, with 11 out of 487 polling stations counted – all in the city of Reggio – Roscioli has secured 1,079 votes, followed by the centre-left candidate, Frank Benedetto, a cardiologist and former director-general of the Calabrian city’s hospital, with 618 votes. Trailing far behind is Domenico Giannetta, the doctor put forward by Vannacci and former leader of the Forza Italia group in the regional council, who has secured just 165 votes in these initial polling stations. With 26 votes, Francesco Toscano – the president of Democrazia Sovrana e Popolare, who took the party away from Marco Rizzo – is faring even worse.

The official turnout certified by the Ministry of the Interior after two days of voting is low, but not exceptionally low for a by-election not held alongside any other election: 22.34 per cent. The lowest figure for such an election was recorded in the 2020 by-election in Campania, when turnout stood at 9.5 per cent.