Eugenio Giani re-elected as Tuscany’s governor

Eugenio Giani has won a second term as president of the Tuscany Region. According to the final results, the center-left incumbent secured 53.9% of the vote, defeating center-right candidate Alessandro Tomasi, who stopped at 40.9%.

Antonella Bundu, the left-wing candidate, obtained just over 5% of the votes, but her list stopped at 4.6%, below the 5% threshold required to enter the Regional Council. Under Tuscany’s electoral law, voters can choose a presidential candidate and a list not directly linked to that candidate. Analysts believe that part of Bundu’s support may have shifted toward the left-wing lists backing Giani, preventing her coalition from reaching the threshold for representation.

The victory was welcomed by national leaders of the Democratic Party (PD). Party secretary Elly Schlein, arriving in Florence to celebrate, said the outcome “refutes those who had been quick to declare the end of the progressive coalition,” adding that voters “chose to continue along the path of a progressive government.”

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni acknowledged the defeat, offering congratulations to Giani and thanking Tomasi and the center-right coalition “for their dedication and passion in such a challenging race.”

Turnout, however, was significantly lower than in the previous regional elections: only 47.73% of eligible voters cast their ballots, compared to 62.6% five years ago.

Updates: Giani plans new regional government

Fresh from his re-election as Tuscany’s governor, Eugenio Giani said he will take time to reflect before forming the new regional government, while promising to meet all of the region’s mayors within his first 100 days in office.

Speaking from Palazzo Strozzi Sacrati in Florence, Giani explained that “fortunately there are about twenty days before the Court of Appeal officially confirms me as president,” allowing time “to think carefully and create a strong team.”

He also outlined some of his immediate priorities, including a series of meetings with local administrations across Tuscany. “In the first hundred days I will meet all the mayors of the region,” he said, stressing that Tuscany remains “a concrete region, focused on solving the problems of its local communities.”

Giani confirmed that his administration will continue expanding community health centers — one of the key issues of his campaign — and move forward with plans for free nursery schools, calling it “a defining element of our social policy.”

The center-left leader, re-elected with about 54% of the vote, described himself as “the president of all Tuscans,” saying the result shows that “Tuscany thinks with its own mind and looks to the future with progressive values.” He said the victory represents “an enlightened and reformist Tuscany” and strengthens the “broad alliance” that supported his candidacy.

As in 2020, Giani will celebrate his victory with a visit to the Sanctuary of Montenero near Livorno, dedicated to the patron saint of Tuscany.

Meanwhile, center-right challenger Alessandro Tomasi, who obtained around 40% of the vote, congratulated Giani and confirmed his intention to take a seat in the Regional Council as leader of the opposition. “We knew it was a very difficult challenge, but we put our heart into it and created enthusiasm,” he said, promising to continue pressing regional authorities on key issues such as economic development and youth employment.

Tomasi criticized the short campaign period and said the separate scheduling of regional elections across Italy “does not help democracy.”

The Court of Appeal is expected to officially proclaim Giani’s second mandate within the next three weeks, after which he will appoint his new cabinet and convene the first session of the new Regional Council

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