Sunday 25 June 111 municipalities with more than 15 inhabitants are called to the ballot for the election of the mayor. The scenario that emerged after the first round leaves room for a series of considerations and analyzes of a political nature.
Among the 25 provincial capitals called to vote in this second round, Palermo and Cuneo have already been conquered in the first round by the centre-left, Frosinone by the centre-right. In the remaining 22, the the centre-right is in the lead in no less than 13 provincial capitals, Verona e GenoVa above all, while the Democratic Party has the advantage only in 6 provincial capitals (L'Aquila, Lodi, Monza, Alessandria, Lucca, Pistoia).
It seems difficult to be able to draw general conclusions from the results of Sunday evening's ballot. If in fact at the national level Forza Italia and the Democratic Party are trying to open glimmers for dialogue, in these administrations they compete in numerous capitals. If, equally, it seems difficult to think of an agreement Berlusconi-Salvini for the next political elections, in many of the Municipalities where the center-right is ahead Lega and Forza Italia have supported the same candidate for mayor.
The same can be said for the centre-left. The constant quarrels between Pd and splinters bersaniani of Mdp in terms of electoral law and future scenarios seem to have been set aside for these elections. Despite everything, however, the party led by Matteo Renzi he risks a lot in this electoral round.
Despite Di Maio and its followers are convinced or try to make believe that they have obtained satisfactory results in the first round, the Five Star Movement is out of all ballots in the provincial capitals, awaiting the recount of votes in Asti. These administrations have put Grillo's enthusiasm aside, and the wave of change seems to have been greatly reduced. However, it is certain that the votes of 5-star voters, if they do not swell the army of abstention, will be decisive during the second round.
The Democratic Party was the party with the most votes in the first round, but it is declining both in the South, where abstention is the strongest factor, and in the North, where it has had to deal with Forza Italia and the Lega who, united, have demonstrated to be able to compete. The scenarios that have arisen in the main cities for the vote cannot make Renzi and his followers sleep peacefully, also because these elections, even if they are not big cities, have brought him back to office, more motivated than before, Silvio Berlusconi, ready to enter a political scene governed by quarrels, discussions and spite.
Let us now analyze in detail which cities offer the most interesting political and future perspectives.
GENOA – The Ligurian capital has always been a red stronghold, but the result of the first round casts serious doubts on the possibility that this trend can be confirmed. If the centre-left were to lose in Genoa, as many expect, the Democratic Party will certainly have to reflect on the disastrous management of the political events in Liguria, where it has already lost the leadership of the region to the centre-right. The manager Marco could fit into this chaotic and unclear scenario Bucci, candidate of the centre-right maxi coalition who obtained about 39% in the first round, against 33% of the centre-left candidate Gianni Sieve.
VERONA – Here too, as in Genoa, the centre-right is ahead after the first round. Indeed, the dem candidate - Professor Orietta Salemi - will not even participate in the ballot, having been defeated by just over 2000 votes by Patrizia Bisinella, companion of the outgoing mayor Flavio Tosi, supported by numerous civic lists after leaving the League in 2015. However, the first round saw the advantage of the candidate of the centre-right coalition Federico Sboarin, which has reached almost 30%, but the red aid of the Democratic Party could make Lady Tosi win.
SIXTH SAINT JOHN - It is not a provincial capital, it is true, but Sesto San Giovanni, in the collective imagination of the Italian left has always been considered the Stalingrad of Italy, the working-class city that has always been governed by the PCI and its heirs. Even here, however, the Democratic Party is at risk, and the shadow of a defeat becomes an increasingly present ghost. The outgoing mayor, the dem Monica Chittò, reached 31% of the votes in the first round against 26% of the center-right candidate Roberto di Stefano, with a difference of only 1400 votes. However, the alarm in the municipality-symbol of the Milanese hinterland was triggered when the centrist candidate Caponi, who obtained an excellent 24% in the first round, declared that he supported Di Stefano in the ballot. For the Democratic Party, therefore, the risk of losing the stronghold is high.
DRILLS – The situation that has arisen in the Sicilian city is somewhat singular. The candidate who had obtained the most votes on June 11 was Girolamo Fazio, came under investigation and had to withdraw his candidacy. Thus only the candidate dem Pietro remains in the running all in the province of Savona , which took 26,27% in the first round. The Democratic Party therefore finds itself having to deal with a paradoxical situation and a very difficult challenge for this ballot: to reach the quorum of 50% of voters and obtain at least 25% of the preferences. If abstention is the winner, the city will be led by a Commissioner appointed by the Region.
PARMA - The first round ended with the two candidates very close: Marco Pizzarotti, a former M5S supported by the Parma Effect list, obtained 34,78%, while Paolo Safety shoes, candidate of the Democratic Party, took 32,73%. The voters of the centre-right candidate Cavandoli, who obtained 19%, will be decisive. If five years ago, in a completely similar situation, the centre-right voters chose to direct their votes to Pizzarotti to lead the Democratic Party to defeat, this year the greatest risk is that of abstention.
HOW TO VOTE
Ballot boxes open, Sunday 25 June, from 7 to 23. The counting of votes will begin immediately after the polls close, therefore it will be possible to get the first indications on the outcome of the various ballots as early as Sunday, late in the evening.
The voter votes by tracing a mark on the rectangle where the name of his favorite has been written. the vote is cast only for the mayor and it is not possible to choose the separate vote option. Only voters who have acquired the right to vote within the first round of the municipal elections will be able to go to the polls. Therefore, only voters who have reached the age of majority by 11 June 2017 will vote, while those who have gained this right in the following days remain excluded. The rules of the previous time apply to everyone: you need to show up with an identification document and your personal electoral card of a permanent nature.
