Rome Elects Center-Left Mayor

Another blow for Berlusconi's side

Ignazio Marino, a former transplant surgeon turned centre-left politician, was elected the new mayor of Rome on Monday, giving a boost to the Italian prime minister, Enrico Letta, and dealing a blow to Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right.

In the most closely watched of a host of local elections, Marino and the capital's incumbent, Gianni Alemanno, battled each other and record voter disillusionment for one of the most prominent political jobs in Italy.

Asked what the effect of his heavy loss would be on Berlusconi's Freedom People party, Alemmano replied: "Not positive."