Polls open in Calabria for the Chamber: the test for Vannacci and the challenge with Forza Italia

The polls are open from 7am in Calabria to choose the new deputy for the Reggio Calabria-Locri constituency. But the political stakes of the by-elections go beyond the single seat in the Chamber. The vote on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 September marks the first electoral step for Roberto Vannacci and Futuro Nazionale, who have decided to challenge Forza Italia precisely in one of the areas where the blue party has built a particularly strong presence over the years.

The confrontation thus turns into an internal challenge to the right, with two candidates coming from the same political world. On the one hand Fabio Roscioli, chosen by Forza Italia. On the other Domenico Giannetta, who moved from the Azzurri to the team founded by Vannacci. In the background there is also the centre-left's attempt to take advantage of the division, with the candidacy of cardiologist Frank Benedetto.

In the final hours of the campaign, however, a new case was added to the political battle. In the center there is a photograph of the undersecretary Matilde Siracusano, published by Vannacci on Facebook. Siracusano claims that the image, in which she appears with a plunging neckline, was taken from her personal Instagram profile and subsequently modified. He announced legal action.

Almost 346 thousand voters called to the polls

The consultation concerns 71 municipalities in the province of Reggio. The college includes a large part of the Ionian belt, as well as Reggio Calabria, Locri, Siderno and Melito Porto Salvo, and extends on the Tyrrhenian side up to Villa San Giovanni and Scilla.

There are a total of 345,788 voters, of which 58,729 reside abroad. Voting operations will continue on Sunday until 11pm. The polls will then open again on Monday from 7am to 3pm.