Centre left retains Florence and Bari

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 24 - The centre left has retained the mayoralties of Florence and Bari, according to returns Monday..
    In the Tuscan capital, centre left candidate Sara Funaro has beaten centre right candidate Eike Schmidt, the German former director of the Uffizi Galleries, while in the Puglia capital Vito Leccese has been elected ahead of the centre right's Fabio Romito.
    Centre left Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein phoned both new mayors to congratulate them on their victories.
    Funaro's predecessor, PD member Dario Nardella, said "Sara will be a very great mayor".
    Eyes are also on Perugia where centre left candidate Vittoria Ferdinandi is also handily placed over the centre right's Marcgherita Scoccia after the weekend's local election run-offs.
    The turnout for the run-offs was 47.71%, down from 62.83% in the first round two weeks previously.
    photo: Funaro (ANSA).