Upsetting the Italian applecart

The results of this week's regional and administrative elections in Italy were upsetting, rather than expected, and are already having an effect on the opposition parties and that of Silvio Berlusconi.

The clear winner this time was the abstention rate, with turnout down eight percentage points compared to the previous regional elections in 2005. According to Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni, this was "a sign of citizens' disaffection".

The results of this year's round have dramatically turned the local government picture upside down. Before the election, 11 of the 13 regions where voting took place were run by the centre-left. After last Monday, the centre-left has retained power only in seven. Victory went to the centre-right and, particularly, to the Northern League led by Umberto Bossi.

It seems that one part of Italy has decided to change its skin and to extend to the regions the policy of the Berlusconi government, at this stage strongly inspired by the League. The Berlusconi-Bossi alliance has won; indeed, the League now has two governors - in Veneto and Piedmont.

In the Lazio region (to which Rome belongs), after the resignation of Left-wing governor Piero Marrazzo, who was embroiled in a sex scandal, the radical candidate Emma Bonino was defeated by Centre-right candidate Renata Polverini.

The map of the Italian regions is changing and is shifting to the Right. It is a silent revolution, which began in 2008 and ended last Monday with the closing of the polling stations.

Governors of the Berlusconi-led coalition are now responsible for the vast majority of Italian citizens: 42 million compared to almost 18 million whose regions are administered by the Centre-Left. It is a significant statistic that indicates how Italy is being deeply transformed, region by region, administrative centre by administrative centre, from the Alps to Sicily.

It is worth pointing out an unusual feature of these elections. For the first time, representatives of the Movimento 5 Stelle, inspired by comedian Beppe Grillo, have been elected in some regional councils. This movement, which originated on the web, has obtained almost five per cent of the votes and its exponents have declared that they will be part of the opposition in regions governed by the Centre-Left.

Within the Democratic Party, a serious debate has started regarding the leadership of its secretary, Pier Luigi Bersani, and the relationship between the main party of the Italian Left and its rank and file.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, speaking in Ottawa on the election results and, in particular, the excellent result obtained by the League, said: "Whoever hoped to hit at Berlusconi by playing the 'scandals' card has been hit in turn. The voters have realised that our way of governing is fair and serious."

One disappointment to the Berlusconi government has been the result of the Venice commune, where Public Administration and Innovation Minister Renato Brunetta has been defeated in the mayoral race because of a substantial drop in voter support for the League, his ally.