Italians vote in local elections, test Monti’s austerity program

PanARMENIAN.Net - Italians voted Sunday, May 6 in local elections seen as a test of the country's political mood nearly six months after Prime Minister Mario Monti's government took over and imposed a biting austerity program, AFP reports.

Some 9.5 million Italians are voting for mayors and council members in 1,024 towns, including several key urban centers such as Genoa, Palermo, Parma and Verona. The voting continues for a second day on Monday.

The vote is the first since the fall of Silvio Berlusconi in November and the ensuing adoption of austerity measures, as well as the resignation of Umberto Bossi as head of Italy's Northern League amid corruption allegations.

It also brings to the spotlight several pressing local issues, including local taxes at a time when many municipalities face financial trouble and the country is in the midst of deep austerity cuts.