Centre left holds Emilia-Romagna, to take Umbria too

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 18 - The centre-left 'broad field' alliance has held Emilia-Romagna and is also projected to take Umbria from the centre right.
    The centre left's win in the Emilia-Romagna governor race is an emotional victory and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) has been extraordinary in leading the winning alliance, PD leader Elly Schelin said after projections showed Michele de Pascale heading for a clear win, by around 55% to 40% for Elena Ugolini.
    In Emilia Romagna, she said from election HQ on Rainews, it has been an "emotional and moving victory", with "an extraordinary fact that is emerging for the PD, the linchpin of the alternative to these right-wing parties".
    She reiterated: "A beautiful, emotional victory, that of Michele de Pascale.
    He will be a great president of Emilia-Romagna. "Thank you for the passion and generosity with which you have spent yourself.
    "It is the sign of a victory that is also the victory of a team and of cohesion".
    "A sign of where we can get when we are united and compact around the objective", added Schlein, according to whom "an extraordinary result is emerging for the Democratic Party and this confirms what we feel is the linchpin for the construction of the alternative to these right-wing parties".
    de Pascale told Premier Giorgia Meloni as his win became more apparent Monday that they should meet up soon to discuss cooperation on relief and preventive measures after recent waves of devastating and deadly floods in the northern region.
    "It has been a year and a half of political speculation, of clashes," he said.
    "In our land people are afraid, businesses are wondering what they should do for their future.
    "Political speculation must end with this election campaign and a new institutional collaboration for Emilia-Romagna must begin.
    "I hope, in the next few days, to be able to meet the prime minister and mark a change of pace on this.
    "Everyone must be available for a big change of pace".
    While a win for the centre left had been a bookies' certainty before the election, with the northern region and Tuscany the only two regions never to have had a centre-right governor, the race in Umbria to the south was expected to be much tighter, and so it has turned out.
    Centre-left Umbria governor candidate Stefania Proietti has an "unbridgeable gap" over incumbent centre-right Governor Donatella Tesei, Youtrend said, declaring Proietti the winner.
    Proiett's slim edge gradually widened to 50% against 47% with respect to earlier projections, while earlier exit polls had put Tesei a tad ahead.
    If the centre right is confirmed as wining both regions, it will be a much-needed fillip after narrowly losing Liguria a month ago. (ANSA).