Exit Polls: Eurosceptic M5S Party Candidate Leads in Rome Mayoral Vote

Italy's eurosceptic Five Star Movement (M5S) candidate Virginia Raggi came atop in the Rome mayoral election on Sunday, exit poll results found Sunday.

ROME (Sputnik) — Virginia Raggi was able to garner between 34 and 38 percent of votes in exit polls right after the polling stations closed on Sunday, according to the La7 television.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Democratic party’s candidate Roberto Giachetti came second with 21.5 to 22.5 percent of votes and will face Raggi off in the second round.

Italians went to the polls on Sunday to elect municipal authorities in the country’s largest cities – Rome, Naples, Milan, Turin, Bologna, Trieste, and Cagliari.

In Naples, exit polls showed sitting mayor Luigi de Magistris, an independent, in the front with 39.5 to 43.5 percent of the vote, trailed by Gianni Lettieri with 21.5 to 25.5 percent of votes.

In Milan, center-right Stefano Parisi was tied with center-left Giuseppe Sala. Parisi garnered between 36 and 40 percent of the vote, while Sala won between 38.5 and 42.5 percent of votes.

The turnout stood at 66 percent, according to the Italian interior ministry. Polls took place in 1,342 municipalities and drew over 13 million of eligible voters.