ROME - Both Italy's centre left government and the centre right opposition claimed victory after the second round of voting in local elections on Sunday, writes Paddy Agnew. Approximately four million Italians voted in five provincial elections and 77 mayoral run offs, including Milan, Turin and Trieste.
Trends expressed in the first round of voting two weeks ago were confirmed with candidates from the centre left coalition headed by the Prime Minister, Mr Romano Prodi, winning eight out of 15 contests in regional capitals, in particular winning in Trieste and Turin where the outgoing centre left mayors, Mr Riccardo Illy and Mr Valentino Castellani, were both returned.