Despite campaigns against large cruise ships reaching the tip of the Grand Canal in Venice, the city’s recent mayoral election may result in more massive ships penetrating the World Heritage Site.
The election victory went to Luigi Brugnaro, a businessman who supports the cruise industry.
The first election was on 31 May but no candidate won more than 50%, so a runoff election took place on Sunday.
Mr Brugnaro captured 53% against the left-of-centre candidate from the Democratic party led by Italy’s prime minister after Brugnaro gained the support of allies in the rightwing Northern League party. The Democratic party was dogged by corruption and bribery scandals.
Observers believe the new mayor could begin discussions with Rome over possible new routes into Venice by large cruise ships, some of which are capable of delivering 3,000 tourists.
Before the election, both Brugnaro and the cruise ship industry said the type of ships going into Venice and their route would be determined by the incoming mayor. Brugnaro has spoken of the importance of cruise ship tourism to the Veneto region and of his preference for a new route into Venice which will require dredging.
He has also said he is staunchly opposed to docking large ships outside of Venice and bringing people by ferry.
A ban on ships weighing more than 96,000 tonnes was introduced in 2012 after the Costa Concordia capsize. Although the ban was later rescinded, it is still the subject of litigation.
A spokesman for the leading cruise ship association, CLIA,said the election result “speaks to Venetians’ desire for a more entrepreneurial approach to the city’s management. We trust that at soon as the new mayor has settled in, he will take at heart the issue of finding a sustainable and long-term solution for the access of cruise liners to Venice.”
Venice is delicate. It is built in a marshy lagoon on a group of 118 small islands linked by bridges and canals.
