Volt Italy

Volt Italy Volt Italia
Abbreviation	Volt
Leader	Guido Silvestri Daniela Patti
Founded	13 July 2018
Ideology	Social liberalism Pro-Europeanism European federalism
National affiliation	PD–IDP (2022)
European affiliation	Volt Europa
Colors	Purple
Website
https://www.voltitalia.it/

Volt Italy (in Italian: Volt Italia) is an Eurofederalist political party in Italy. It is an affiliate of Volt Europa and was founded in 2018. Volt was unable to take part in the 2019 European Parliament election in Italy, failing to obtain the required 150,000 notarised supporter signatures. Since then, the party has contested municipal and regional elections, winning a number of mandates and providing a deputy mayor since October 2021.

History

National sections of Volt Europa. The borders of the European Union are shown in red.

Volt Italy was officially registered as a party in July 2018 as the 5th national offshoot of Volt Europe.^[1] The aim was to participate in the 2019 European Parliament election, for which the party collected signatures throughout Italy but also in other European countries.^[2] Volt failed to clear the hurdle of collecting 150,000 notarised supporter signatures.^[3] In January 2020, Volt contested its first election in Italy with the 2020 Emilia-Romagna regional election, and failed to enter the regional council with 0.43%.^[4] The party engaged in opposition to the 2020 Italian constitutional referendum to reduce the size of the Italian Parliament, which was later approved.^[5] To be able to achieve the associated threshold, Volt stated that it was open to cooperation with other liberal forces.^[6]

In March 2021, Volt Italy refused to become part of a new left-wing alliance as part of the call "Now we can go, for a new reformist and liberal-democratic alliance", referring to its special character as a European party. A merger with other parties at the national level would not be compatible with a cross-border understanding of the party as a party that advocates the same contents everywhere but Volt would continue to be open to cooperation. In addition, Volt criticised that parties should see themselves less as an antipole but rather see their task as developing and offering solutions to problems.^[7] Also in March 2021, the party launched the campaign "I live, I work, I vote", campaigning for the right of non-EU citizens to vote in local elections, as the current system would exclude a large part of the population from political participation.^[8]

The party supports referendums on the legalisation of cannabis and euthanasia to be held in 2022.^[9] Since 6 April 2022, Volt Italy has been a member of the European Movement International in Italy.^[10] At the General Assembly in Bari on 14–15 October 2023, Daniela Patti and Guido Silvestri were elected as co-leaders, while Pasquale Lisena was confirmed as treasurer.

Elections

2020 regional and local elections

In the regional elections in Emilia-Romagna, Volt contested an election in Italy for the first time. The content of the campaign focused on health, social justice, and economic development.^[11] Among the demands during the campaign were the introduction of environmental and social requirements in public tenders and the introduction of consultation tables between schools, universities and companies.^[12] The party achieved 0.43% and thus fell short of entering the regional council.^[4]

In September 2020, Volt contested the regional elections in Apulia,^[13] Tuscany,^[14] and Veneto,^[15] as it did the local elections in Bolzano,^[16] Cascina,^[17] Mantua,^[18] Matera,^[19] Senigallia,^[20] Trento,^[21] Venice^[22] and Voghera,^[23] as part of joint coalition lists. The party achieved one mandate in Mantua,^[24] and four in Matera.^[25] In May 2022, a councillor in Matera moved to Volt.^[26]

2021 local elections

In October 2021, Volt contested local elections in Turin, Milan, Trieste, Bologna, Rome, Varese, Isernia, Sesto Fiorentino, Pavullo nel Frignano, Roseto degli Abruzzi, and Bettona. The party won four seats in Isernia, and one seat each in Rome and Roseto degli Abruzzi. In other cities, seats were won for joint lists but none for Volt. The party achieved by far its best result in Isernia with 6.58%.^[27] The party focused on mobility and the environment, housing policy, and young people, as well as entrepreneurship. After the local election, Federica Vinci became deputy mayor of Isernia.^[28]

2022 local elections

In June 2022, the party took part in the local elections in Monza,^[29] Lissone,^[30] Verona,^[31] Parma,^[32] Messina,^[33] Padua,^[34] Lissone,^[35] Como,^[36] Catanzaro,^[37] Castiglione delle Stiviere,^[38] Lucca,^[39] Carrara,^[40] Leverano,^[41] Marcon,^[42] Palermo, Capua, and Genoa.^[43] In other cities, joint lists with other parties won seats but none were won by Volt. Volt won one mandate each in Verona,^[44] Genoa,^[45] Leverano,^[41] and Castiglione delle Stiviere.^[46]

2022 general election

Volt did not elect a deputy or senator in the 2022 Italian general election as part of the centre-left coalition.^[47]

2023 local elections

On the occasion of the regional elections on 12–13 Fedruary 2023, Volt in Lazio joined the Italian Radicals and More Europe in support of Alessio D’Amato, the outgoing councilor of the centre-left coalition that governed Lazio but failed to elected any councilor with 0.96%. In Lombardy, Volt supported the civic list of the centre-left candidate Pierfrancesco Majorino but failed to elect any of its own candidates. In the May local elections, Volt appeared on some civic lists, such as in Brescia, while it had its own list in Treviso (0.76%).

2024 regional elections

In the 2024 Basilicata regional election, Volt's candidate, Eustachio Follia, gained 1.21%.^[48]

2024 local elections

On the occasion of the 2024 local elections, Volt formed a list together in Perugia with the Greens and Left Alliance in support of the centre-left coalition candidate Vittoria Ferdinandi.

Election results

European Parliament

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	EP Group
2024	Guido Silvestri Daniela Patti	Into PD		0 / 76	New	–

References

1. "Cosa è Volt, il partito dei Millennials che credono nell'Europa". Agi (in Italian). 17 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
2. "Volt, il partito europeista fondato da un italiano, un tedesco e una francese cerca firme a Berlino". Berlino Magazine (in Italian). 19 March 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
3. "Tutti i simboli e le alleanze in corsa alle elezioni europee". Wired Italia (in Italian). 9 April 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
4. "Riepilogo Emilia-Romagna - Elezioni regionali 2020". wwwservizi.regione.emilia-romagna.it. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
5. "NO al taglio dei parlamentari". Volt Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
6. Redazione (12 April 2021). "Che cos'è Volt?". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
7. "Contro il bipopulismo perfetto | Volt spiega perché non si fonderà con altri partiti". Linkiesta.it (in Italian). 4 March 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
8. "Comunali, Volt lancia "Vivo, lavoro, voto" per estendere il diritto di voto ai cittadini extra Ue". BolognaToday (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
9. ""Sì, no, forse… boh": le posizioni dei partiti sui referendum". pagellapolitica.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
10. "Il Movimento Europeo in Italia dà il benvenuto a Più Europa, Volt Italia e Alleanza delle Cooperative Italiane". Facebook (in Italian). 6 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
11. "Regionali, il candidato Volt Baldazzi: "Siamo con Bonaccini e per una politica meno urlata"". BolognaToday (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
12. "Regionali, Volt ottimista in Emilia-Romagna: "Siamo la novità che piace"". Dire.it (in Italian). 20 January 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
13. Redazione (23 August 2020). "Regionali Puglia 2020: Tutti i candidati di Futuro Verde". pugliain.net (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
14. "Regionali Toscana 2020, circoscrizione Firenze 1: i candidati consiglieri". Il Reporter (in Italian). 17 September 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
15. "Più Veneto in Europa Volt, ecco i giovani candidati della lista di Treviso". www.oggitreviso.it. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
16. "Elezioni comunali 2020 - Alto Adige / Gemeindewahlen 2020 - Südtirol". civis.bz.it. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
17. "Volt Cascina - elezioni comunali 2020". www.comune.cascina.pi.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
18. "Volt Mantova partecipa alle elezioni candidando Annalisa Lerose e Francesco Viola". Prima Mantova (in Italian). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
19. "Comune di Matera - Volt Matera". www.comune.matera.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
20. "Volt valuta se appoggiare una delle liste esistenti a Senigallia - Senigallia Notizie". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
21. ""Europa verde" a Trento: lista che unisce la sinistra - Trento | l'Adige.it". l'Adige (in Italian). 19 February 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
22. "Svolta in Comune, dal gioco di parole una lista a sostegno di Baretta". VeneziaToday (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
23. Bidone, da Ermanno (10 January 2020). "Voghera, Ghezzi si ricandida: sostegno da +Europa, Radicali e Volt". Milano Pavia News (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
24. "Elezioni Comunali Mantova 2020: risultati, candidati, percentuali". www.corriere.it. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
25. "Risultati elezioni comunali Matera 2020 | Sky TG24". tg24.sky.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022.
26. REDAZIONE (24 May 2022). "Matera: La consigliera comunale Imma Milìa Parisi ha aderito al gruppo consiliare Volt Matera, iscrivendosi anche al partito europeista". Oltre Free Press - Quotidiano di Notizie Gratuite (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022.
27. "Comunali: Volt al 6,5% a Isernia, elegge giovane consigliera - Notizie - Molise". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 5 October 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
28. Redazione. "Isernia, Paolino presidente del Consiglio. Staffetta con Sardelli". isNews.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
29. "Monza, elezioni. +Europa e Volt non correranno con il centro-sinistra: annunciato il sostegno a Paolo Piffer". MBNews (in Italian). 23 April 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
30. "Elezioni, anche i Riformisti e gli europeisti in corsa per Erba". Prima Monza (in Italian). 30 April 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
31. "Europa Verde, Demos e Volt formano un'unica lista per Damiano Tommasi". VeronaSera (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
32. "Elezioni, a Parma patto Pizzarotti - Pd: così il centrosinistra sogna la vittoria attesa da 25 anni". la Repubblica (in Italian). 26 April 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
33. "Elezioni Messina: De Domenico incassa l'appoggio di Più Europa e Volt". Nebrodi News (in Italian). 9 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
34. ""Per Padova": parte nelle piazze e sul web la campagna elettorale della lista pro Giordani". PadovaOggi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
35. "Elezioni comunali: "Vivi Lissone" presenta i suoi candidati a sostegno di Antonio Erba". Il Cittadino di Monza e Brianza (in Italian). 22 February 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
36. "Dominatrice candidata a Como per Azione, arriva l'alt di Calenda - Politica". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 9 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
37. "Il Psi con Fiorita che attacca: «Sugli scrutatori grave ferita. E non ho fatto accordi per il ballottaggio»". Corriere della Calabria (in Italian). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
38. Redazione (10 April 2022). "Elezioni a Castiglione: "Prima la persona, poi i partiti" Caristia lancia la sua corsa". la Voce Di Mantova (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
39. "Toscana al voto in 28 Comuni, ecco le grandi sfide". www.toscanamedianews.it (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
40. "Sinistra Civica Ecologista: «Serena Arrighi è l'unica candidata»". La Voce Apuana (in Italian). 12 February 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
41. "Elezioni comunali Leverano 2022 - Risultati - La Repubblica". elezioni.repubblica.it. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
42. "Elezioni comunali a Marcon. Ecco tutte le preferenze lista per lista". La Nuova di Venezia. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
43. "Anche il movimento europeo Volt schiera i suoi candidati per le amministrative". La Voce di Genova (in Italian). 26 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
44. "Ballottaggio Verona 2022, i risultati ufficiali: Tommasi nuovo sindaco". Money.it (in Italian). 27 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
45. "Elezioni Genova 2022: i risultati Comune per Comune | Corriere.it". www.corriere.it. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
46. "Elezioni Castiglione Delle Stiviere 2022: i risultati Comune per Comune | Corriere.it". www.corriere.it. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
47. "Insieme per un'Italia Democratica e Progressista -". www.voltitalia.it (in Italian). 12 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
48. "Scrutini regionali".

External links

• Official website (in Italian)