The Center-Left, led by Decaro, seeks re-election in Puglia.

Puglia's broad-based candidate for governor, Antonio Decaro, the frontrunner in the polls, prefers not to look at them and to rely on the feedback he gets from "the people he meets every day." His rival, Luigi Lobuono, the center-right presidential hopeful, promises he can defy the odds, just as his colleague, "Acquaroli nelle Marche," did.

Currently, according to polls published today by the newspapers La Repubblica (which reports the Youtrend average of Ipsos and Noto polls) and La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno (the poll conducted by Alessandra Hisleri with Only Numbers), Decaro is expected to lead Lobuono by more than 30 points, ensuring the coalition can lead the region for a fifth consecutive term. But politics, as we know, is full of dramatic twists and turns. Moreover, the cards have not yet been fully laid out in an election campaign that, so far, seems to be characterized by fair play. Following visits to Puglia in recent days by M5S President Giuseppe Conte and AVS leaders Bonelli and Fratoianni, Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein is expected. Her first stop will be Taranto, home to Europe's largest steelworks, a city consumed by the dilemma of balancing the right to healthcare and the right to work. Her vision for the future of the former Ilva steelworks could prove decisive. The Democratic Party leader has called for the state to proceed with a temporary nationalization to protect the environment and the industrial future. Today, Minister Urso, in Bari to support Lobuono, explained that this is not a possibility permitted by the Constitution, but the state can participate in the tender process and conduct a public inspection of the plant.

One of Lobuono's strengths is his direct connection to the central government and the main ruling parties. Tonight in Lecce, Arianna Meloni will present the Brothers of Italy candidate list. Meanwhile, on Monday in Bari, the center-right will be united, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her two deputies, Salvini and Tajani, leaders of the League and Forza Italia. The Foreign Minister's party was implicated on Wednesday in an investigation into alleged mafia-related vote-buying in the 2020 municipal elections in Modugno (Bari), which led to the arrest of councilor Antonio Lopez, a candidate for the Forza Italia party in the upcoming regional elections. "These are individual problems for individual people," Lobuono commented. Also running for president of the Puglia Region are Ada Donno, of Puglia Pacifista e Popolare (standing at 1.2% according to polls); and Sabino Mangano, formerly of the Five Star Movement (with 0.8%). Their role, however, seems more of a stimulus and goad to the two main candidates.