NAPLES - The latest polls, conducted by Euromedia Research and commissioned by the Europa Verde party, have shown that the former university professor Gaetano Manfredi is the favourite to become the Mayor of Naples in the upcoming elections. 

  Manfredi is an independent candidate, though has the support of the Democratic Party (PD) and 5 Star Movement (M5S). He previosuly served as the Minister of University and Research in Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's second coalition government.

  The polls, conducted using a sample of 1,000 Neapolitans on June 7 and 8, show that Manfredi has 54.9 percent of voters' confidence. Just behind him is Catello Maresca with 47.9 percent. 

  Maresca is a former magistrate who has worked for the Antimafia District Directorate (DDA) and the Public Prosecutor's Office in Naples. Maresca is a centre-right candidate but has infuriated the leaders of the League and Fratelli d'Italia (Matteo Salvini and Giorgia Meloni) by not wishing to be affiliated with any of the major centre-right parties. 

  Next in the polls come Antonio Bassolino and Alessandra Clemente with 36.9 percent and 34 percent respectively.

  Regarding the votes for parties, according to Repubblica Napoli, the PD-M5S axis led by Manfredi are the front runners, with support for M5S being at 19.1 percent, PD at 17.9 percent, FdI at 14.2, Lega at 9.6 and Forza Italia at 7 percent.

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