Two women from the Five Star Movement (M5S) have been voted in as mayors of Rome and the northern city of Turin.
Virginia Raggi (pictured) won 67% of the vote in Rome, defeating the candidate from the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) of PM Matteo Renzi.
Raggi, 37, declared a “new era” after her victory. She becomes the first female leader of the capital in its more than two and a half millennia of existence.
In Turin Chiara Appendino, 31, received nearly 55% of the vote, ousting the incumbent DP candidate.
Both the new M5S female mayors are successful career women from well-heeled backgrounds.
Milan narrowly voted in a PD candidate, Giuseppe Sala who had successfully organised the Expo world fair last year. In Naples, the independent incumbent won with two-thirds of the vote.
M5S was started seven years ago by comedian Beppe Grillo. It is only now shaking off its reputation as a party of protest after gaining the two powerful cities.
Rome is in disarray – the previous mayor had to resign eight months ago over an expenses scandal. A much bigger scandal involves millions destined for public services being siphoned off by city hall officials, leaving garbage uncollected, public transport only limping and debts of over €13 billion. Residents are angry about when has been deemed the “mafia capital”.
Tackling corruption was one of Raggi’s main campaign platforms.
The results illustrate the public’s mood for change after some 15 years of economic stagnation.
The same feeling could highlight a referendum in October on constitutional reform and a general election due by 2018.
Renzi has vowed to quit if he loses the October vote on streamlining Italy’s parliamentary and electoral systems.
