Overview
- Bernardo, who led Forza Italia in Milan’s city council and ran as the centre‑right mayoral candidate in 2021, has formally moved his affiliation to Roberto Vannacci’s Futuro Nazionale and will take part in a party announcement scheduled for Thursday morning.
- Futuro Nazionale framed the transfer as a planned step to build the party’s institutional presence in the city by recruiting a well‑known local figure.
- Sources inside Forza Italia told the press Bernardo had long been unhappy with the city leadership and felt he received less support than expected for a possible new mayoral bid, including being left out of a recent gathering of aspirants.
- Mayor Giuseppe Sala said he was not informed of the decision and called the move “very strange,” adding that he intends to speak with Bernardo about it.
- The switch could reshape centre‑right alliances and candidate lists in Milan ahead of local and national contests, and Vannacci has said the party plans to name a Milan mayoral candidate by September.