Exit polls gave Virginia Raggi, the female candidate from the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), at least 60 percent of the vote, which made her emerged as the favourite to become mayor in Rome, according to local news.

The 37-year-old lawyer, won 35 percent of the vote in the first round two weeks ago, pushing Roberto Giachetti of Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) into second place.

Attentions is focused on Rome and Milan, since a setback there would be a signal of weakness for the ruling PD party, and might thus reverberate at national level.

Polls were scheduled to close at 11 p.m., with vote counting beginning immediately. If Raggi wins, she will become the first woman to serve as Rome mayor.

source : xinhua