Tuscany votes for new governor amid debates on health, transport and tourism

Tuscany heads to the polls on Sunday 12 and Monday 13 October to elect its new regional president. Three candidates are running for the job: incumbent governor Eugenio Giani (center-left), Alessandro Tomasi, mayor of Pistoia (center-right), and Antonella Bundu (Toscana Rossa, far left).

The election comes at a politically charged time in Italy, as six regions vote amid international tension and weeks of demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine. The national climate has shifted, with the Democratic Party (PD) seeking to broaden its appeal through alliances with the Green-Left Alliance (AVS) and the Five Star Movement, tapping into a wave of social and environmental activism. Yet in the regions that have already voted — Marche and Calabria — low turnout favored the center-right, which secured both victories.

If that pattern repeats, Tuscany may be an exception. The region has been governed by the center-left continuously since 1970, the year of Italy’s first regional elections. Current polls still give Giani a narrow lead, although much will depend on voter participation. After Tuscany, the spotlight will move to Campania, Puglia and Veneto, potentially setting up a 3–3 balance between the two main coalitions nationwide.

The campaign has been intense, marked by several public debates and televised face-offs, including a final three-way discussion hosted by La Nazione, where the candidates clashed over health care, transport, security and energy policy.

Health care: from hospital reform to waiting lists

Health is a defining issue in Tuscany’s race. Giani pledges to strengthen the public healthcare system through 77 new community health centers, designed to relieve pressure on emergency rooms and cut waiting times. Tomasi, by contrast, highlights inefficiencies in a health budget of €8.1 billion, arguing that the region needs “reorganization and cost control.” Bundu calls for a fully public system, promising to reduce waiting lists within three years through new hires and internalized services.

Transport: the Fi-Pi-Li highway and high-speed rail

Infrastructure divides the candidates sharply. Giani plans to create Toscana Strade S.p.A., a public company to manage the Fi-Pi-Li highway (Florence-Pisa-Livorno), introducing a toll for trucks to fund a third lane and emergency route. Tomasi agrees on the need for improvements but calls for “a detailed project plan within six months” rather than a new bureaucracy. Bundu opposes the toll entirely, urging a shift toward rail transport and opposing the expansion of Florence’s Peretola airport, which both Giani and Tomasi support.

On rail mobility, Giani defends the long-delayed high-speed rail tunnel and Foster station project in Florence, claiming it will increase regional trains from 414 to 616 daily. Tomasi criticizes the public transport tender that unified bus services under a single operator, saying it has led to “cuts and long waits.” Bundu argues that investment should focus on existing rail lines and calls the Foster project “a costly mistake.”

Tourism and housing pressure

Tourism policy also features prominently. Tuscany’s new Regional Tourism Law, promoted by Giani, was challenged by the national government before the Constitutional Court but remains a cornerstone of his campaign. The law gives municipalities more power to regulate short-term rentals. Tomasi agrees the law must be revised but warns of unfair competition between hotels and large property owners running multiple tourist apartments. Bundu focuses on the social consequences, calling for stricter controls to combat overtourism and the depopulation of city centers.

A test for the national coalitions

The Tuscan election is more than a local contest: it’s a barometer for Italy’s political balance halfway through the Meloni government’s term. While the center-right seeks to extend its dominance beyond northern regions, the center-left hopes that a solid win in Tuscany could prove that its new alliances — uniting progressive and environmental forces — can still mobilize voters.

Whether voters will turn out in large numbers, however, remains uncertain. If participation remains low, analysts believe that Giani’s incumbency and the region’s long-standing progressive identity could be enough to secure another term — keeping Tuscany in center-left hands for at least five more years.

Polling stations open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday. A runoff will be held on October 26–27 if no candidate surpasses 40% of the vote.

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