Due to COVID-19... Italy Postpones Local Elections in the First Half of the Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Seong Giho] Italy has postponed all local elections scheduled for the first half of the year to this fall due to the COVID-19 situation.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi made this decision after a cabinet meeting on the 4th (local time), according to local media reports.

Not only the Calabria gubernatorial election scheduled for April 11 but also mayoral elections in major cities such as Rome, Milan, Naples, Torino, and Bologna in June have all been postponed.

The rescheduled election dates have not yet been determined. However, it is expected to take place between September 15 and October 15.

The authorities made this decision judging that the virus spread has reached a dangerous level, especially with the rapid spread of the variant originating from the UK.

Last year, Italy also postponed local elections in seven provinces?Toscana, Puglia, Liguria, Marche, Veneto, Campania, and Valle d'Aosta?originally scheduled for the first half of the year, and held them all at once over two days on September 20-21.