Former Italian soccer player Damiano Tommasi has become mayor of his hometown of Verona. As the top candidate of the Social Democratic Party (PD), the 48-year-old won the runoff against incumbent Federico Sboarina with 53 percent of the vote.
“Verona was waiting for this turning point, now we face a great responsibility,” said Tommasi. He spoke of a “historic result” for centre-left forces in the traditionally more right-wing municipality of Verona.
“Miracle of an Outsider”
Tommasi’s victory is a serious defeat for the right-wing ruling party Lega led by ex-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, which has had its stronghold in Verona for years. The Roman daily newspaper “La Repubblica” wrote about the “miracle of an outsider” who, contrary to expectations, was able to win.
65 Italian cities were called to runoff elections yesterday. These are the municipalities where no candidate for mayor received a 50 percent majority in the first ballot on June 12. Elections were held in Gorizia, Monza and Parma, among others. In Friulian Gorizia, the centre-right mayor Rodolfo Ziberna managed to win re-election. The centre-left candidates won in Monza and Parma.