Rome is set to elect its first female mayor in a run-off vote in municipal elections.

Virginia Raggi, from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, is seen as the favorite against Roberto Giachetti of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD).

Her victory would be a blow to Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

His PD party may also lose in Italy’s financial capital, Milan, and faces tough battles in Turin and Bologna.

Ms Raggi, a 37-year-old lawyer, won 35% of the vote in the first round two weeks ago, against 24% for Mr Giachetti.

Correspondents say a victory in Rome would give anti-globalist Five Star a platform for parliamentary elections due in 2018.

Source : BBC 

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