Meloni coalition claims key local elections in Italy

Centre-right holds Venice and takes Reggio Calabria in local elections. Prime minister Giorgia Meloni's centre-right coalition has claimed victory in two of Italy's most closely watched local elections, retaining Venice and seizing Reggio Calabria in a round of votes that served as an electoral test before the 2027 general election. Centre-right candidates won in the centre-right bastion of Venice and the centre-left stronghold of Reggio Calabria, the biggest cities up for grabs in a round of local votes in which more than 6.6 million Italians were called on to cast ballots. Election results In Venice, the centre right has governed the lagoon city for 11 years under mayor Luigi Brugnaro. Despite opinion polls suggesting a centre-left lead heading into polling day, the centre-right candidate Simone Venturini prevailed with more than 50 per cent of the vote, in a decisive victory over Andrea Martella. In Reggio Calabria, the centre right's Francesco Cannizzaro (Forza Italia) looked set to cruise home with around 65 per cent of the vote, compared to 24 per cent for the centre left's acting mayor Domenico Battaglia. The centre left had governed the Calabrian capital since 2014. Elsewhere, veteran former Campania governor Vincenzo De Luca was on track to hold Salerno for the centre left with around 60 per cent of the vote. The centre right looked set to hold Macerata, Crotone and Lecco, news agency ANSA reported on Monday evening, while the centre left was expected to maintain control of Mantova, Pistoia and Andria, with Messina set to go to an independent candidate again. Relief for Meloni coalition after setback The results came as a relief to Meloni's government after suffering a bruising defeat in a justice reform referendum earlier this year, which had shattered the premier's aura of political invincibility. Opposition parties had hoped the local contests would confirm a wider decline for the ruling coalition, however the centre-left alliance headed up by Partito Democratico (PD) leader Elly Schlein and Movimento 5 Stelle leader Giuseppe Conte were left disappointed. Reacting to the results, Meloni extended her best wishes to all newly elected mayors, before adding with characteristic irony: "And again today, the much-heralded collapse of the centre-right is postponed until tomorrow." National turnout was 60 per cent, almost five percentage points down on last time, reflecting an ongoing trend. Photo credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com