Telescope Public Opinion Watch: A two-round analysis on Italian public opinion and political preferences in 2024

This article presents findings from theTelescope Public Opinion Watch, a setof two cross-sectional surveys analyzing Italian public opinion and political prefer-ences throughout 2024. The first, conducted in May before the European Parlia-ment elections, examined voters’ electoral intentions, issue preferences, and opinionon leaders of the main parties. Results indicated high electoral uncertainty, persis-tent ideological divides, and the strategic importance of key leadership traits. Thesecond survey, conducted in November, tracked shifts in public attitudes and intro-duced new items addressing emergent political debates. Findings revealed increasedwar-weariness, increasingly negative attitudes towards immigration, and growingclimate change polarization. Class-based and generational divides within electoralcoalitions deepened, particularly within the right-wing bloc. The article highlightsthe challenges of voter mobilization, the entrenchment of partisan loyalties, andthe relevance of economic and security concerns in shaping electoral behavior. Itoffers a comprehensive overview of the current Italian political landscape and thestructural constraints that might affect future electoral competition.