Over six million Italians are called
to the polls in local elections across the country Sunday and
Monday.
Some 6.3 million Italian voters are called to the polls in the
first electoral test after last September's general election
which ended in a crushing victory for the centre right.
Citizens will turn out in 790 towns and cities including 13
provincial capitals: Ancona, Brescia, Brindisi, Imperia, Latina,
Massa, Pisa, Siena, Sondrio, Teramo, Terni, Treviso and Vicenza.
Italian dailies have identified five key battlegrounds: Brescia,
Ancona, Vicenza, Pisa and Siena, the first two of which are
currently ruled by the centre left and the last three governed
by the centre right.
The possible second round of voting in towns with more than
15,000 inhabitants where the mayoral candidate has not obtained
50%+1 of the vote will take place on May 28-29.
Trentino and Val d'Aosta will vote on May 21 and Sicily and
Sardinia on May 28-29, so their possible run-offs will be later.
Voting stations opned at seven o'clock Sunday and will stay open
till eleven o'clock Sunday night, before reopening from seven to
three Monday.
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