Italy's main political forces each gained the mayorship of a major city, with election results Monday showing the center-right opposition won in Milan and the governing coalition took Turin.
But the real winners of Sunday's runoffs in 77 mayoral races and five provincial president contests may be the hardline Communists, newspapers said.The Communist Party's support was crucial in the ruling Olive Tree coalition's victory in Turin. The results sent a message to Premier Romano Prodi that "without Communist Refoundation, the Olive Tree, like it or not, isn't even able to compete with ambitions of success," said Paolo Franchi, commenting in Corriere della Sera.
Milan, Italy's second-largest city and its economic powerhouse, was the biggest municipal victory so far for the center-right Freedom Alliance, headed by media mogul Silvio Berlusconi. Businessman Gabriele Albertini won with 53 percent of the vote.