Vannacci challenges Forza Italia as polls open in Calabria by-election

Voters across the Reggio Calabria-Locri constituency headed to the ballot boxes as a high-stakes parliamentary by-election got underway. What began as a routine contest to fill a vacant seat in the Chamber of Deputies has transformed into an internal power struggle on the right. The election serves as the inaugural electoral litmus test for Roberto Vannacci’s newly established political vehicle, Futuro Nazionale, which is directly challenging Forza Italia in a traditional stronghold of the blue party. According to reporting, polling stations opened at 7 AM on Sunday, 27 September 2026.

The vacancy in the Chamber of Deputies arose after the election of Forza Italia member Francesco Cannizzaro as mayor, transforming local succession into a national political spectacle. The electoral contest spans across municipalities in the province of Reggio Calabria, encompassing the Ionian coast, Reggio Calabria itself, Locri, Siderno, Melito Porto Salvo, and extending along the Tyrrhenian coast toward Villa San Giovanni and Scilla. Additional reporting notes that the consultation covers 71 municipalities, while parallel coverage specifies the constituency encompasses Reggio Calabria and 70 municipalities of the metropolitan city. A total of 345,788 voters are registered for the ballot, with 58,729 of those electors residing abroad.

The right-wing battle features two primary figures from opposing internal factions. Forza Italia has put forward Fabio Roscioli, the party treasurer, a lawyer with a long history at Fininvest who is close to the Berlusconi family. Challenging him is Domenico Giannetta, a medical doctor and former regional council group leader for Forza Italia who previously secured over 10,000 votes, now running under Vannacci's Futuro Nazionale banner. Futuro Nazionale has framed Roscioli as an external imposition while positioning Giannetta as a figure with deep local roots. Beyond this internal clash on the right, the centre-left has united behind cardiologist and former Democratic Party group leader Frank Benedetto, who is returning to active politics after two decades supported by a coalition of 12 political groups including Italia Viva and Movimento 5 Stelle. An additional contender, Francesco Toscano, is running for Democrazia Sovrana Popolare.

The campaign's final stretch was overshadowed by a bitter social media controversy involving Undersecretary Matilde Siracusano. Reporting notes that Vannacci shared a Facebook post featuring a doctored image of Roscioli, Siracusano, and Senator Claudio Lotito seated before a cake bearing the word Calabria. Furthermore, Vannacci posted another photograph of Siracusano wearing a low-cut top, which she asserted was taken from her personal Instagram profile and manipulated. Siracusano, who is the partner of regional President Roberto Occhiuto, announced that she will take legal action regarding the altered imagery.

Vannacci has focused the final stage of his campaign on a direct attack on the Calabrian leadership of the Azzurri, setting his sights on both regional President Roberto Occhiuto and Francesco Cannizzaro. The Futuro Nazionale campaign aims to portray Roscioli as a candidate imposed from the outside while highlighting Giannetta's local roots. Meanwhile, Frank Benedetto's strategy hinges on the contrast between the unity of the 12-group coalition backing him and the widening divisions within the right-wing camp.

Voting Schedule

• Sunday, 27 September 2026: Polling stations opened at 7:00 AM and remain open until 11:00 PM.
• Monday, 28 September 2026: Polling stations reopen from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Following the close of voting on Monday afternoon, attention will immediately shift to the counting of ballots. The outcome will provide the first concrete measure of Futuro Nazionale's electoral viability and could reshape the political equilibrium of the centre-right coalition ahead of future general elections.