NPR

Long A Bastion Of The Left, Tuscany Is Turning Hard Right

Since 2016, the hard-right, anti-immigrant League party has won elections in many towns in Tuscany, a major shift in a region known as the birthplace of the Italian Communist Party.
Pisa's Square of Miracles with cathedral and Leaning Tower.

The Italian region of Tuscany is not known just for its fine wines, extra-virgin olive oil and Renaissance masterpieces. It's also the birthplace of the Italian Communist Party, which was founded in 1921, and has been a bastion of left-wing governance for decades.

But in the last three years, Tuscany has experienced political upheaval as the hard-right, anti-immigrant League party has won elections in many towns, marking the first losses for the left in Tuscany in more than seven decades.

Pisa is one of those towns. It's home to three universities that have long attracted students from all over the world — some of whom settled in the Tuscan city. In its Square of Miracles, the cathedral, baptistry and iconic Leaning

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