Italy on edge as Romans vote to elect new mayor

Romans went to the polls yesterday to elect a mayor of Italy’s capital in a vote which could have repercussions for the fragile national government of prime minister Enrico Letta.

His centre-left Democratic Party (PD) has been in crisis since throwing away a 10-point lead before February’s national election. Many of its voters are unhappy with the decision to govern with the centre-right led by traditional adversary Silvio Berlusconi.

If Ignazio Marino, the PD’s Rome mayoral candidate, loses, dissent among PD voters and rank and file lawmakers is likely to intensify. A victory would give the party a much needed boost, even though Marino has distanced himself from its leadership.