Letizia Moratti might be expected to be pleased by Italy's recent swing to the right. Education minister in the country's last centre-right government, her mayoral campaign was supported by the main rightwing parties.

But the former banker and media executive who two years ago became Milan's first female mayor, prefers to style herself as "non-partisan". As if to prove the point she this week urged Silvio Berlusconi, prime minister-elect, to reform the system governing ownership and transfer of flight slots so she can better protect the future of Milan's Malpensa airport.