Volt Italia selects Francesca Romana D'Antuono as lead candidate for 2027 general election, positioning itself as a pillar of Italy's progressive coalition

GENOA, Italy – November 10, 2026 – Volt Italia has officially selected Francesca Romana D'Antuono, former Co-President of Volt Europa, as its lead candidate for the 2027 Italian general election. The vote, held at the party's National General Assembly in Genoa this weekend, launches Volt's campaign to shape the country's next progressive governing majority and secure seats in Parliament for the first time.

Nov 10, 2026
Francesca Romana D'Antuono

The participation of Elly Schlein, Secretary of the biggest party opposing Italy's right wing government, and Silvia Salis, Mayor of Genoa, underscored Volt's growing relevance in supporting and shaping the broader progressive movement.

Volt Italia is not just another national political party. It is the Italian chapter of Volt Europa, the first pan-European party with a proven track record, growing to five Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and nearly 400 elected representatives across 11 countries in municipal, regional, and national assemblies.

Italy, however, faces a structural weakness in its democratic system which potentially impacts Volt Italia's participation in elections. While established parties benefit from exemptions and entrenched advantages, newcomers must overcome onerous signature requirements and bureaucratic hurdles simply to appear on the ballot. These requirements have recently been made even harder by the Meloni government's new electoral law. The result is a political system that limits competition, innovation and voters' choice.

Volt Italia wants to contest the 2027 election focused on forming a coherent, progressive, and federalist alternative for Italy, putting high-wage jobs, public services, green innovation, and institutional reform at the center of the legislative agenda.

"From stagnant wages and the housing crisis, scarcity to industrial modernization, artificial intelligence, and the ecological transition, our challenges cannot be solved within closed borders," said Francesca Romana D'Antuono. "Volt is entering this national race ready to govern and ensure Italy plays a leading role in shaping a more just, democratic and united Europe."

During the Genoa Assembly, party delegates also approved key national platform policies for Italy designed to tackle structural inequality and drive growth:

  • Tax Reform: Introducing targeted wealth and land-value taxation to shift the fiscal burden away from labor and small businesses.

  • Cost of Living & Housing: Actionable European and municipal investment frameworks for public, affordable housing.

  • Civil Liberties: Decriminalization and regulation of cannabis alongside expanded protections for civil rights.

  • Electoral & Democratic Reform: Introducing a fairer, more representative electoral system with ranked-choice voting, easier ballot access through digital signatures, and expanded voting rights for 16-year-olds and citizens living away from their registered residence.

"Volt stands for a different kind of politics. We don't retreat behind borders, we look beyond them for what we can achieve by cooperating" said Sven Frank, Co-President of Volt Europa. "Francesca helped shape Volt's development as a European movement, and her leadership in Italy reflects our ambition to make Italy a leading force in building the Europe we need."

About Volt Italia:

Volt Italia is the Italian chapter of Volt Europa, the first pan-European political party. Volt is the first European political party active in over 30 countries and committed to work towards a united, democratic and sustainable Europe.

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