TV debate leaves Rome mayorial contest open

ROME – Virginia Raggi and Roberto Giachetti, the mayorial candidates for Rome, this week came face to face in their first televised television debate on Rai 3. Aside from flinging fairly harmless insults at one another, the debate was not a “vindictive affaire” political officials report.

The topics that were discussed in most depth during the debate were the capital’s candidacy for hosting the 2024 Olympics, municipal companies and the city’s severe debt, the latter of which, Raggi, the candidate for the Cinque Stelle movement, implied that other than trying to renegotiate, another possibility could be simply not to pay it back.

On the controversial subject of the Olympic Games Raggi reiterated that her priorities for the city lay elsewhere, but did concede that things could change; “for now, it remains a ‘no’, but it is not necessary to come to a final decision now”. Giachetti, the centre-left candidate supported by the Democratic Party of Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, who is staunchly in favour of Rome’s host candidacy, tried to push her for an answer, before voicing his own conclusion that “Raggi shows too much hesitation […] this characterises a ‘no’.”

Atac, the municipal transport company, was another point of conflict for the two candidates. Raggi accused Giachetti of “wanting to privatise” the service, to which the Democratic Party candidate replied that he merely wanted to put it back on an even keel.

The debate continued in this genre of accusation, followed by defence, followed by counter-accusation, throughout the evening without a great deal of illumination over the general plans for the capital. However, on being asked their first move as mayor, Giachetti promised free bus rides for the over 70s, while the Cinque Stelle candidate said that she would seek confirmation on the debt.

The second round takes place on Wednesday on Sky Tg24, in Piazza del Campidoglio, leaving the candidates six days to boost their vote by ten points. After neither candidate clearly coming out on top in the debate, there remains a lot to be played for.

DT