Italy votes in test for PM Renzi's reform agenda
Italians go to the polls on May 31 in local elections that will be the biggest test for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi since his center-left Democratic Party (PD) triumphed in a vote for the European parliament a year ago.
Some 22 million voters will elect new governments in seven of Italy's 20 regions and more than 1,000 municipalities following a campaign dominated by corruption allegations against one of Renzi's most prominent candidates.
The 40-year-old premier needs a convincing result to maintain momentum for labor and education reforms which have met fierce resistance from trade unions, the political opposition and the left wing of his own PD.
The center-left currently holds power in five of the seven regions. If Renzi maintains or improves on that tally against a divided opposition he will continue to look unassailable some 15 months after he come to office following an internal party coup.
The PD is unlikely to repeat its record performance at the European elections when it won 41 percent of the vote, but opinion polls, which have a poor track record in Italy, suggest it will remain easily the country's biggest party.
No exit polls will be released when polls close at 11 p.m. and results are likely to trickle in early on June 1.