Rome is to be governed by its first woman mayor as Virginia Raggi, of the Five Star Movement (M5S) scored a dazzling electoral victory with as much as 67 per cent of the vote.
“A new era is beginning with us,” said Ms Raggi, who won in the run-off ballot. “We’ll work to bring back legality and transparency to the city’s institutions.”
The decisive victory for the 37-year-old lawyer and her anti-corruption platform marks a huge shot in the arm for the anti-establishment party headed by the raucous comic Beppe Grillo who was in Rome at M5S headquarters celebrating with Ms Raggi.