Polls closed 2 hours ago, but the result is quite clear: Pisapia won 55-45. The new mayor of Milan will be the gentle Giuliano, representing the left, who beat the incumbent mayor Letizia Moratti, belonging to the PdL, Berlusconi's party.
I write this brief note to thank all friends who enjoyed the diary I published on Daily Kos a few days ago, and who cheered for us.
After the first round of voting two weeks ago, the Right-wing tried to win at every cost: Pisapia has been the subject of a smear campaign full of lies and blows below the belt. Berlusconi personally lined up on the field all his media power to prevent a victory of the Left in his own city.
But at the same time we witnessed tremendous popular mobilization, especially among young people who coloured in orange (the colour chosen by the Pisapia’s campaign) a town famous for its greyness.
It’s a win for the people, tired of hearing politicians telling fairy tales and shaking the spectre of fear: fear of others, especially if unlike, and fear of change. The gang of not ethical wheeler dealers who led the city in the last 20 years must now prepare to pack its bags and go off its way.
It is difficult to say now if this unexpected victory will be only an episode, or start a political earthquake. I feel that in Italy now nothing is as before, because the early results of the elections in other cities (like Naples, where left-wing candidate, Luigi De Magistris, is beating 65-35 Gianni Lettieri, PdL) are leading to believe that the wind of change has been raised, and that may soon arrive in the rooms of power in Rome.
Maybe the end of a system is near, and this race in Milan will be remembered as the beginning of the end for Berlusconi. As a slogan says, Pisapia frees Milan, Milan frees anyone.
Now I run to Piazza del Duomo to celebrate, from tomorrow we will look to the future with more hope. Thank you again.
Pisapia’s campaign video: “Love Assaults”
Pisapia’s campaign final rally in Piazza Duomo (with 70K people)
UPDATE:
election day at the Pisapia's headquarter
amatorial video on the spontaneous party in Piazza del Duomo, after Pisapia's victory - 100K people estimated (I was there, somewhere)