Populist Virginia Raggi was yesterday elected as the first female mayor of the capital Rome, defeating the candidate chosen by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
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| The voting results showed that Virginia Raggi, 37, of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), won 67% of the vote against Roberto Giachetti, of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party. With this result, Ms. Raggi became the first female mayor of Rome, Italy. In the photo, Ms. Raggi at a press conference on June 20 in Rome. Photo: Reuters. |
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| "For the first time in history, Rome has a female mayor," Ms. Raggi said in her victory speech. "I will restore legitimacy and transparency to the city's institutions after 20 years of mismanagement. A new era is upon us." Photo: Reuters. |
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| 13 million Italians went to the polls yesterday in 1,351 local elections, including cities, towns and villages, across the country. In addition to Rome, four other cities re-elected mayors: Milan, Turin, Naples and Bologna. Photo: Reuters. |
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| The victory in Rome is considered a great success for M5S, the opposition party founded by Mr. Beppe Grillo in 2009. Photo: AFP |
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| Raggi, a local councillor, was a relative unknown a few months ago. Yet she has successfully tapped into voters’ anger over the state of Rome’s public transport and other services, which the city government has largely neglected. Photo: Reuters. |
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| “It’s time to change Rome” was her campaign slogan. Here, Ms. Raggi at a campaign event in Ostia, near Rome, on June 17. Photo: Reuters. |
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| However, many analysts are skeptical about Raggi's ability to make a difference due to her lack of experience and the city's huge structural problems, including a debt of more than 13 billion euros ($14.7 billion). Photo: Reuters. |
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| Ms. Raggi votes in Rome on June 19. Photo: Reuters. |
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| Ms. Raggi poses with a supporter at a fundraising event in Rome on June 19. Photo: Reuters. |
According to VNE
