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Italy elections: Rome poised to elect Virginia Raggi as first female mayor Italy elections: Big wins for Five Star protest party
(about 3 hours later)
Exit polls suggest Rome has chosen its first female mayor after Italy held run-off municipal elections. The anti-establishment Five Star Movement has made big gains in Italy, winning mayoral races in Rome and Turin, early results show.
Virginia Raggi, of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, was favourite against Roberto Giachetti of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD). Virginia Raggi will become Rome's first female leader, in a victory seen as a blow to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his centre-left Democratic Party (PD).
Victory for Ms Raggi, little known just a few months ago, would be a blow to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. PD has secured Italy's financial capital, Milan, and Bologna.
The PD appears to have clung on to Italy's financial capital, Milan, but is likely to lose Turin to Five Star. The results could give anti-globalist Five Star a platform for parliamentary elections due in 2018, observers say.
In Naples, former prosecutor Luigi de Magistris, a centrist, is set to win a second term. Italy local elections were held in two stages, with a first round a fortnight ago and the second round on Sunday.
Ms Raggi, a 37-year-old lawyer, won 35% of the vote in the first round two weeks ago, against 24% for Mr Giachetti. Ms Raggi, a 37-year-old lawyer who was little known just a few months ago, was on course to win two-thirds of the vote, defeating the PD candidate, Roberto Giachetti.
Correspondents say a victory in Rome would give anti-globalist Five Star a platform for parliamentary elections due in 2018. "I will be a mayor for all Romans. I will restore legality and transparency to the city's institutions after 20 years of poor governance. With us a new era is opening," she said.
The next mayor of Rome will find a city mired in debts of more than €13bn (£10bn; $15bn) - twice its annual budget. Ms Raggi will find a city mired in debts of more than €13bn (£10bn; $15bn) - twice its annual budget.
Romans are frustrated by potholes, piles of rubbish and serious deficiencies in public transport and housing, the BBC's James Reynolds reports from the Italian capital.Romans are frustrated by potholes, piles of rubbish and serious deficiencies in public transport and housing, the BBC's James Reynolds reports from the Italian capital.
When in Rome shake up the politics
In Turin, another Five Star woman, Chiara Appendino, inflicted an additional blow on the Democratic Party, whose candidate had come out on top in the first round of voting two weeks ago.
Founded by comedian Beppe Grillo in 2009, Five Star has been campaigning against the corruption that has plagued Italian politics for years.Founded by comedian Beppe Grillo in 2009, Five Star has been campaigning against the corruption that has plagued Italian politics for years.
PD's Ignazio Marino resigned as mayor of Rome in October over an expenses scandal. The city has been without a mayor since then.PD's Ignazio Marino resigned as mayor of Rome in October over an expenses scandal. The city has been without a mayor since then.
A much bigger scandal, involving alleged Mafia influence in Rome city hall, has fuelled Five Star's rise.A much bigger scandal, involving alleged Mafia influence in Rome city hall, has fuelled Five Star's rise.
It is looking to establish itself as the main opposition party in the 2018 general election.It is looking to establish itself as the main opposition party in the 2018 general election.
In Naples, Italy's third city, former prosecutor Luigi de Magistris, a centrist, was likely to win a second term.
Prime Minister Renzi has staked his political future on an October referendum in which he wants Italians to back far-reaching constitutional reforms.Prime Minister Renzi has staked his political future on an October referendum in which he wants Italians to back far-reaching constitutional reforms.
The plan is to end Italy's tradition of "revolving-door" governments and inject stability after years of party infighting and legislative logjams.The plan is to end Italy's tradition of "revolving-door" governments and inject stability after years of party infighting and legislative logjams.