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Local election test for Italy's Renzi

May 31, 2015

Italians are voting in regional and municipal elections. The vote is being seen as a popularity test for premier Matteo Renzi - and for ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi, as he attempts a political comeback.

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Polling station in Italy with officials waiting for voters. EPA/CIRO FUSCO
Image: picture-alliance/epa/C. Fusco

More than 20 million Italians are eligible to vote in Sunday's local elections, in which governors will be elected in seven of the country's 20 regions, along with mayors in more than 700 municipalities.

Although the election mostly concerns smaller and medium-sized communities, voting is also taking place in the major city of Venice.

The election represents a gauge of popularity for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's center-left Democratic Party (PD) after nearly a year and a half in government, with the northern region of Liguria likely to be particularly hotly contested.

Matteo Renzi AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO
Renzi is Italy's youngest-ever premierImage: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images

The elections will also be a crucial testing ground for the two parties vying for leadership of Italy's conservative camp: the anti-migrant Northern League party led by Matteo Salvini, and Forza Italia of former premier and 78-year-old media magnate Silvio Berlusconi.

The veteran politician is looking to make a comeback after being acquitted on charges of paying for underage sex and a bout of community service for tax fraud.

Possible embarrassment

The polls are the first in the country since Europeans elections a year ago that the PD won with just over 40 percent of the vote.

At present, five of the seven regions up for grabs are governed by the left, while the League and Forza Italia hold one each.

Silvio Berlusconi sitting and smiling. Photo SamanthaxZucchi
Berlusconi has often courted scandal during his career.Image: imago/Insidefoto

In a potential embarrassment for Renzi, one PD candidate, Vincenzo De Luca, who is standing in the region of Campania surrounding the southern city of Naples, could be banned from office if even he does win because of a criminal conviction for abuse of office.

De Luca, who has Renzi's continued support, has denied all charges and is appealing the conviction.

Polls opened at 7:00 a.m (05:00 GMT) and were to close at 11:00 p.m. (21:00 GMT). Results are expected on Monday.

tj/jil (dpa, AFP)