ITALY – The 2022 Eurovision host city announcement will delay even further according to what sources now speculate. The announcement which is the most delayed one in the history of the contest is going to take place after the municipal elections. This is why EBU and RAI are not making any comments or statements in order to avoid political games behind it.

So, if this is the case (which according to tour sources is), we cannot expect news about host cities before the election of a Mayor to the five cities which are in the final phase.

Now, let’s clarify that the first round of the municipal elections is set for 3-4 October. If we have elected Mayor on the night of 4/10 then the following days we could expect developments. If no majority is achieved in any of the five bidding cities, we will have to wait for the runoff (second round) of the municipal elections set for October 17-18.

Let’s have a look at the current standings for the municipal elections in the five bidding cities. Information is given for understanding the procedure and not aiming to make a political post.

TURIN

The municipal elections in Turin will take place on 3 and 4 October 2021, with a possible run-off on 17 and 18 October 2021. The incumbent Mayor of Turin is Chiara Appendino of Five Star Movement, who won the 2016 Turin municipal election.

MILAN

The municipal elections in Milan will take place on 3 and 4 October 2021, with a possible run-off on 17 and 18 October 2021 to elect the Mayor and the 48 members of the City Council, as well as the nine presidents and 270 councilors of the nine administrative zones in which the municipality is divided, each one having one president and 30 councilors. Local elections in Italy are always scheduled between 15 April and 15 June, however on 4 March 2021, the Government decided to postpone them to the autumn following a new spike in the coronavirus pandemic. Incumbent Mayor Giuseppe Sala announced that he will run for a second five-year term.

BOLOGNA

The municipal elections in Bologna will take place on 3 and 4 October 2021, with a possible run-off on 17 and 18 October 2021. The incumbent Mayor of Bologna is Virginio Merola of the Democratic Party, who won the 2016 Bologna municipal election.

PESARO

The Mayor of Pesaro is an elected politician who, along with the Pesaro’s City Council, is accountable for the strategic government of Pesaro in Marche, Italy. The current Mayor is Matteo Ricci, a member of the Democratic Party, who took office on 30 May 2014.

RIMINI

The Mayor of Rimini is an elected politician who, along with the Rimini’s City Council, is accountable for the strategic government of Rimini in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The current Mayor is Andrea Gnassi, a member of the Democratic Party, who took office on 31 May 2011.

an oikotimes original text