Crossword Genius

Italy is next to be facing vote for Alpine native (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ibex

'alpine native' is the definition.
(animal native to mountains)

'italy is next to be facing vote' is the wordplay.
'italy' becomes 'i'.
'is next to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'facing' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'vote' becomes 'x' (how votes are marked).
'i'+'be'+'x'='IBEX'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ibex that I've seen before include "Sure-footed climber" , "one seldom puts a foot wrong" , "Wind goat of North Africa" , "Mountain goat with curving horns" , "Wild mountain goat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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