A centre-right bloc made up of
Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI), the anti-migrant Northern
League (LN) and the rightwing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party was
the big winner of local-election run-offs in many Italian towns
and cities on Sunday.
The centre right won most of the contests in the 22
provincial capitals, with the centre-left losing strongholds
such as Genoa and Pistoia.
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) was absent from
most run-offs after performing badly in the first round.
Federico Pizzarotti, a former M5S member, was re-elected
mayor of Parma.
The centre-left defeats led to criticism of ex-premier Matteo
Renzi, leader of the ruling Democratic Party.
"Things could have gone better but general elections are a
different story," Renzi said.
Northern League leader Matteo Salvini said that the way the
centre right parties joined forces for the victories in the
local elections should be used at the national level.
"I can't wait to export the model from these local elections
to the national level," he told a press conference Monday.
"If, after decades, they ask us to govern in Genova, Pistoia
or Sesto San Giovanni, it means that we can govern the country
too - with clear ideas and without hesitations about whether or
not to be with Renzi".
Salvini also said the lesson was that there should be "no
more votes that save the government" of the PD Premier Paolo
Gentiloni.
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