This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/19/rome-likely-to-have-elected-its-first-female-mayor
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rome likely to have elected its first female mayor | Rome likely to have elected its first female mayor |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An anti-establishment outsider is on track to be elected mayor of Rome, according to exit polls, and become the first woman to run the Italian capital. | An anti-establishment outsider is on track to be elected mayor of Rome, according to exit polls, and become the first woman to run the Italian capital. |
| Virginia Raggi, the Five Star Movement’s (M5S) candidate, won between 64% and 68% of the vote, according to polls published on Sunday night by the Ansa news agency. The 37-year-old lawyer was well ahead of her rival, the Democratic party’s Roberto Giachetti, who was forecast to win between 32 and 36% of votes. | Virginia Raggi, the Five Star Movement’s (M5S) candidate, won between 64% and 68% of the vote, according to polls published on Sunday night by the Ansa news agency. The 37-year-old lawyer was well ahead of her rival, the Democratic party’s Roberto Giachetti, who was forecast to win between 32 and 36% of votes. |
| “Today two qualities are needed: honesty and courage,” Raggi tweeted before the result became known, quoting a former Italian president, Sandro Pertini. | “Today two qualities are needed: honesty and courage,” Raggi tweeted before the result became known, quoting a former Italian president, Sandro Pertini. |
| A win by the M5S would mark a direct challenge to the Democratic prime minister, Matteo Renzi, and reflect the electorate’s seething discontent with mainstream political parties. | A win by the M5S would mark a direct challenge to the Democratic prime minister, Matteo Renzi, and reflect the electorate’s seething discontent with mainstream political parties. |
| After the exit polls were announced Raggi wrote on her Facebook page: “I thank all of those who have devoted resources and energy during this campaign, believing in a new idea for the city. Now together we await the results from the ballot box.” | After the exit polls were announced Raggi wrote on her Facebook page: “I thank all of those who have devoted resources and energy during this campaign, believing in a new idea for the city. Now together we await the results from the ballot box.” |
| Founded by comedian Beppe Grillo after the economic crisis, M5S received a quarter of the vote in the 2013 national elections but has until now failed to shake off its reputation as a protest party. But with Raggi expected to take the reins in Rome when the outcome is announced on Monday, the movement would enter the heart of decision-making in the country’s capital. | Founded by comedian Beppe Grillo after the economic crisis, M5S received a quarter of the vote in the 2013 national elections but has until now failed to shake off its reputation as a protest party. But with Raggi expected to take the reins in Rome when the outcome is announced on Monday, the movement would enter the heart of decision-making in the country’s capital. |
| The new mayor will face a series of problems in a city that has been leaderless for eight months, since the former Democratic mayor, Ignazio Marino, resigned following an expenses scandal. Rome has since been run by a special commissioner, Francesco Paolo Tronca, while the country’s anti-corruption watchdog has kept a close eye on the administration. | The new mayor will face a series of problems in a city that has been leaderless for eight months, since the former Democratic mayor, Ignazio Marino, resigned following an expenses scandal. Rome has since been run by a special commissioner, Francesco Paolo Tronca, while the country’s anti-corruption watchdog has kept a close eye on the administration. |
| Related: Virginia Raggi faces five key tests if she becomes Rome mayor | Related: Virginia Raggi faces five key tests if she becomes Rome mayor |
| Battling corruption has been one of Raggi’s main campaign promises, tapping into public anger about the “mafia capitale” scandal, in which it emerged that city hall officials were involved in stealing millions from the state. Such criminality has contributed to the dire state of Rome’s public services, including rubbish collection and public transport, which are the top two complaints of residents. | Battling corruption has been one of Raggi’s main campaign promises, tapping into public anger about the “mafia capitale” scandal, in which it emerged that city hall officials were involved in stealing millions from the state. Such criminality has contributed to the dire state of Rome’s public services, including rubbish collection and public transport, which are the top two complaints of residents. |
| Other challenges faced by Raggi come from within the political sphere; a male-dominated world where women have struggled to be taken seriously. Before the first round of voting on 5 June, Silvio Berlusconi refused to support one of the leading right-wing candidates, Giorgia Meloni, arguing that her pregnancy made her unfit for public office. | Other challenges faced by Raggi come from within the political sphere; a male-dominated world where women have struggled to be taken seriously. Before the first round of voting on 5 June, Silvio Berlusconi refused to support one of the leading right-wing candidates, Giorgia Meloni, arguing that her pregnancy made her unfit for public office. |
| Raggi’s critics have tended to focus on her lack of experience, having been a councillor for just three years, saying that it renders her incapable of transforming Rome. | Raggi’s critics have tended to focus on her lack of experience, having been a councillor for just three years, saying that it renders her incapable of transforming Rome. |
| The prime minister will be watching warily, because a successful Five Star Movement administration in the capital would be a threat to his party. | The prime minister will be watching warily, because a successful Five Star Movement administration in the capital would be a threat to his party. |
| Renzi’s party appeared likely to win the vote in the country’s financial capital, with Giuseppe Sala predicted to be named mayor of Milan, receiving between 49 and 53% of the vote, a slight lead against his centre-right rival, Stefano Parisi, with between 47 and 51%. | Renzi’s party appeared likely to win the vote in the country’s financial capital, with Giuseppe Sala predicted to be named mayor of Milan, receiving between 49 and 53% of the vote, a slight lead against his centre-right rival, Stefano Parisi, with between 47 and 51%. |
| But the Democratic party was expecting a setback in Turin, where the incumbent, Piero Fassino, was in second place with between 46 and 50% of the vote according to exit polls. The Five Star Movement’s Chiara Appendino was slightly ahead, with 50 to 54%. | But the Democratic party was expecting a setback in Turin, where the incumbent, Piero Fassino, was in second place with between 46 and 50% of the vote according to exit polls. The Five Star Movement’s Chiara Appendino was slightly ahead, with 50 to 54%. |