The anti-establishment Five
Star Movement (M5S) on Thursday began online voting to select
its mayoral candidate for June elections in Rome.
Registered M5S members resident in Rome could vote for up
to five candidates among the 208 in the running from 10 am to 7
pm local time.
The ten candidates garnering most votes will go through to
a second-round ballot, probably on February 23 or 24, to decide
who will run against the centre right's Guido Bertolaso, former
head of the civil protection department, ex Lazio regional
governor Francesco Storace for the right-wing La Destra,
probably either deputy Lower House speaker Roberto Giachetti or
former Rome executive urban planning councillor Roberto
Morassut, both of the Democratic Party (PD), for the centre-left
and ex PD member Stefano Fassina for Italian Left.
Rome is holding elections following the ouster of PD mayor
Marino allegedly over an expenses scandal last autumn.
The city is being administered by a special commissioner,
former Milan prefect Francesco Paolo Tronca, in the interim.
M5S can count on strong support following the Mafia
Capitale scandal involving alleged infiltration by a criminal
organisation into lucrative city contracts.
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