A Quantum Diaries Survivor

Yesterday's administrative elections in Italy have shown that italians are happy to be governed by center-left coalitions.

While not surprisingly different from the outcome of recent political elections - which appeared to show a country almost exactly split in two between center-left and center-right supporters, yesterday's results appear to give more credit to the center-left coalition, which receives the trust of citizens when it comes to local administration of cities.

In fact, while it is true that the lower percentage of voters in administrative elections penalizes the right, that only means that even citizens not sympathetic with center-left parties do not fear a center-left major.

Walter Veltroni has been confirmed as major of Rome with 61.4% of votes, Sergio Chiamparino has been confirmed as major of Turin with 66.6%, Rosa Iervolino major of Naples with 57% of votes. They administered well their cities during the last four years, and these percentages are larger than the pool of potential voters of the parties that supported the new elected majors.

Successes on the other side are less blatant. Letizia Moratti won in Milano by a narrow margin, cashing 52% of votes. Chapeau, but Milano has always been a feud of the center-right, and the former major, also an expression of that majority, had obtained 57.5% of votes four years ago.

Another member of the center-right coalition, Salvatore Cuffaro -who is under trial for allegiance of dealing with mafia- was confirmed as President of Sicily with 53% of votes (he had won the seat in 2001 with 59%).

These results are a little encouragement to Romano Prodi, who is starting his five-year term as italian Premier with several difficult challenges ahead. First and foremost, the suffering italian economy.