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AFP
Rome
A right-wing alliance including the far-right Lega won regional elections in Italy’s Basilicata on Monday, ending 24-years of centre-left power in the last vote test before European elections.
Retired finance police general Vito Bardi proclaimed victory with most of the votes counted after Sunday’s election in the southern region, located on the instep of Italy’s “boot”.
New regional president Bardi’s list won 42 percent of votes, according to provisional results, the centre-left list took 33 percent.
Bardi is from former premier Silvio Berlusconi’s right-wing Forza Italia but was backed by parties including Interior Minister Matteo Salvini’s anti-immigrant Lega.
“Thanks! The Lega triples its vote in a year!” Salvini tweeted after similar electoral successes in Abruzzo and Sardinia.
The Lega is in a national coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement which won nearly 21 percent in Sunday’s vote, half what it won in elections last year.
Voters were disappointed that the environmentalist M5S had not fulfilled campaign promises to take a hard line against the oil industry in the region, home to the Val’d Agri field, which pumps 85,000 barrels per day in the largely agricultural area, media reported.
The Lega is riding high in the polls since last year’s national elections and is eyeing greater success in May’s European parliament elections.
Rome
A right-wing alliance including the far-right Lega won regional elections in Italy’s Basilicata on Monday, ending 24-years of centre-left power in the last vote test before European elections.
Retired finance police general Vito Bardi proclaimed victory with most of the votes counted after Sunday’s election in the southern region, located on the instep of Italy’s “boot”.
New regional president Bardi’s list won 42 percent of votes, according to provisional results, the centre-left list took 33 percent.
Bardi is from former premier Silvio Berlusconi’s right-wing Forza Italia but was backed by parties including Interior Minister Matteo Salvini’s anti-immigrant Lega.
“Thanks! The Lega triples its vote in a year!” Salvini tweeted after similar electoral successes in Abruzzo and Sardinia.
The Lega is in a national coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement which won nearly 21 percent in Sunday’s vote, half what it won in elections last year.
Voters were disappointed that the environmentalist M5S had not fulfilled campaign promises to take a hard line against the oil industry in the region, home to the Val’d Agri field, which pumps 85,000 barrels per day in the largely agricultural area, media reported.
The Lega is riding high in the polls since last year’s national elections and is eyeing greater success in May’s European parliament elections.
