Counting is underway in Italy’s municipal elections, with early results showing strong performances for centre-left candidates in several key cities.
In Genoa, Silvia Salis is set to become mayor after defeating centre-right candidate Pietro Piciocchi. He called Salis to concede and offered his congratulations, describing her win as “a victory with great numbers”.
The Democratic Party celebrated online, hailing “two extraordinary victories” as Salis and Alessandro Barattoni in Ravenna both won outright in the first round.
Barattoni, holding 58% with the count over halfway, has already pledged to focus on Ravenna’s port and transport links. “We are working on the Ravenna of the next ten years,” he said. The Democratic Party is polling above 40% in the city. The 5 Star Movement currently leads the other centre-left lists.
In Matera, projections suggest a tighter race. Reformist candidate Roberto Cifarelli leads with 42.2%, followed by centre-right’s Antonio Nicoletti at 38.3%. Five Star’s Domenico Bennardi and Progetto Comune’s Vincenzo Santochirico trail behind.
Taranto is heading for a run-off. Centre-left candidate Pietro Bitetti leads with 36.6%, while Francesco Tacente, supported by League-backed civic lists, is second with 26.5%. Centre-right candidate Luca Lazzaro is third. The Five Star candidate is fourth.
Final turnout was 56.29%, unchanged from the last local elections, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
National referendums are due on 8-9th June and require a minimum turnout of 50% of eligible voters.
