Alessandro Barattoni and Silvia Salis elected in first round as mayors of Ravenna and Genoa.Italy's centre-left claimed victories in the northern cities of Genoa and Ravenna in the first round of local elections, as Taranto and Matera in the south head to a run-off vote in June.Silvia Salis was elected mayor of Genoa on Monady night with more than 52 per cent of the vote, ending the eight-year of the Ligurian capital by the centre-right. The 39-year-old former hammer thrower and deputy vice president of Italy's Olympic committee (CONI) was supported by the centre-left coalition including the Partito Democratico (PD), the Green and Left Alliance (AVS) and the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S). Salis takes over from Pietro Piciocchi, current acting mayor after the centre-right former mayor Marco Bucci was elected president of the Liguria region last October. Alessandro Barattoni, also supported by the centre-left coalition, was elected mayor of Ravenna with 58 per cent of the vote in a resounding defeat for the centre-right whose support was split between two candidates. Barattoni, 42, takes over from Michele de Pascale, who was elected governor of the Emilia-Romagna region last November. The centre-left is ahead too in Taranto, with the former president of the city council Piero Bitetti obtaining around 37 per cent of the vote in the first round. Bitetti will face the centre-right candidate Franceso Tacente, who took more than 27 per cent, in the run-off ballot scheduled on 8-9 June. Matera will also head to a run-off, with the centre-left candidate Roberto Cifarelli ahead on 42 per cent against the 38 per cent of Antonio Nicoletti for the centre-right. “When we are united we win”, PD leader Elly Schlein said on Monday night following the elections that brought more than two million Italians to the polls. The so-called campo largo (broad field) centre-left coalition has proved successful, conquering two out of four provincial capitals in the first round of the local elections as it looks ahead to the run-offs in a strong position. “The PD confirms its growth, after last year's regional elections and the European ones" - Schlein said - "By now it is clear, the centre-right rejoices over opinion polls but we are winning the elections". The run-off ballot will be held on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 June at the same time as five abrogative referendums including a landmark vote on easing Italy's citizenship rules. Photo Silvia Salis

Italy's centre-left claimed victories in the northern cities of Genoa and Ravenna in the first round of local elections, as Taranto and Matera in the south head to a run-off vote in June. Silvia Salis was elected mayor of Genoa on Monady night with more than 52 per cent of the vote, ending the eight-year of the Ligurian capital by the centre-right. The 39-year-old former hammer thrower and deputy vice president of Italy's Olympic committee (CONI) was supported by the centre-left coalition including the Partito Democratico (PD), the Green and Left Alliance (AVS) and the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S). Salis takes over from Pietro Piciocchi, current acting mayor after the centre-right former mayor Marco Bucci was last October. Alessandro Barattoni, also supported by the centre-left coalition, was elected mayor of Ravenna with 58 per cent of the vote in a resounding defeat for the centre-right whose support was split between two candidates. Barattoni, 42, takes over from Michele de Pascale, who was last November. The centre-left is ahead too in Taranto, with the former president of the city council Piero Bitetti obtaining around 37 per cent of the vote in the first round. Bitetti will face the centre-right candidate Franceso Tacente, who took more than 27 per cent, in the run-off ballot scheduled on 8-9 June. Matera will also head to a run-off, with the centre-left candidate Roberto Cifarelli ahead on 42 per cent against the 38 per cent of Antonio Nicoletti for the centre-right. “When we are united we win”, PD leader Elly Schlein said on Monday night following the elections that brought more than two million Italians to the polls. The so-called campo largo (broad field) centre-left coalition has proved successful, conquering two out of four provincial capitals in the first round of the local elections as it looks ahead to the run-offs in a strong position. “The PD confirms its growth, after last year's regional elections and the European ones" - Schlein said - "By now it is clear, the centre-right rejoices over opinion polls but we are winning the elections". The run-off ballot will be held on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 June at the same time as including a landmark vote on . Photo Silvia Salis