Comunali

Comunali is the Italian term used to describe matters related to a comune (municipality), including its administration, local government, and elections. The word is most commonly encountered in reference to municipal elections, known as elezioni comunali, which decide the mayor and the municipal council of a town or city.

In the Italian system, the mayor (sindaco) is elected by a two-round process. If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of valid votes in the first round, they are elected outright. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the top two candidates advance to a second round (ballottaggio) held a few weeks later. The municipal council (consiglio comunale) is elected through proportional representation based on party lists, with the aim of reflecting the voters’ preferences across the municipality.

A majority bonus is typically applied to the coalition supporting the elected mayor to help ensure stable governance, though the exact allocation of seats depends on the municipality’s size and local rules. The number of council seats varies with population, ranging from a small council in tiny comunes to hundreds in large cities.

Beyond elections, comunali also covers the ongoing functions of local government, such as the council’s deliberations and the executive activities of the giunta comunale (municipal executive). The terms comunale and comune are closely tied to local autonomy, urban planning, public services, and community administration.

In common usage, comunali can refer to the plural scope of municipalities or to issues and events tied to local government across Italy. It is used in official and media language to denote matters pertaining to local governance and elections.