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Italy votes in election seen as key for economic recovery Italy votes in election seen as key for economic recovery
(35 minutes later)
Polls have opened for a second and final day in Italy's general election - a vote seen as crucial for efforts to tackle the country's economic problems, as well as for the eurozone.Polls have opened for a second and final day in Italy's general election - a vote seen as crucial for efforts to tackle the country's economic problems, as well as for the eurozone.
Turnout on Sunday was 55%, a drop of 7% compared with the 2008 elections, with bad weather partly being blamed.Turnout on Sunday was 55%, a drop of 7% compared with the 2008 elections, with bad weather partly being blamed.
Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left bloc is believed to have a narrow lead over Silvio Berlusconi's alliance. Pre-election polls gave Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left bloc a narrow lead over Silvio Berlusconi's alliance.
But a new protest party appears to be on course for an impressive result. But the rise of a new protest party has made the outcome unpredictable.
The anti-establishment movement led by former comedian Beppe Grillo drew huge crowds during its rallies in the final stages of the election campaign. The anti-establishment movement, Five Star (M5S), led by former comedian Beppe Grillo, drew huge crowds during its rallies in the final stages of the election campaign.
Investors and Europe's leaders will be watching anxiously as the first results in the Italian election come in. What they fear is a weak government, or a coalition that waters down economic reforms and budget cuts.
Italy is the third largest country in the eurozone and any instability could undermine confidence in the European economy.
The front-runner is the centre-left candidate Pier Luigi Bersani who will make growth rather than austerity his priority. Europe's leaders hope he can form a coalition with Mario Monti, the former unelected prime minister and the man credited with restoring some stability to Italy's government.
Silvio Berlusconi may not win but, if he does well in the Senate, may end up with influence.
Much attention will focus on Beppe Grillo; a comedian who is attracting a large protest vote - potentially making it very difficult to form a credible administration.
The election was called two months ahead of schedule, after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mario Monti's technocratic government.The election was called two months ahead of schedule, after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mario Monti's technocratic government.
Turn-out figures are expected to be down, and it is felt that this will, at least in part, reflect the utter contempt many Italians have developed for the political establishment.
To what extent will that mood play into the hands of the Five Star Movement, a citizens' protest group? That question obsesses the analysts now.
And the Five Star activists believe that the increasingly worried establishment is capable of anything - at one point it was advising its voters to lick their pencil to help make their cross on the ballot paper just a bit harder to remove.
Meanwhile, the anti-Mafia campaigner, Roberto Saviano, has been writing of alleged vote-buying in what he calls a "corrupt and desperate" nation.
But the mood was lightened just a little by pictures taken as Silvio Berlusconi cast his vote. A young woman working at the polling station had her hands over her eyes, obviously appalled at being in the great man's presence.
"You need to learn to smile," he said. But no smile came.
'Getting favours''Getting favours'
Italians will vote until 15:00 (14:00 GMT), and the first results are expected within hours.Italians will vote until 15:00 (14:00 GMT), and the first results are expected within hours.
But there is huge uncertainty as to what the results may bring, although everyone believes the outcome will be close, the BBC's Alan Johnston reports from Rome.But there is huge uncertainty as to what the results may bring, although everyone believes the outcome will be close, the BBC's Alan Johnston reports from Rome.
Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) was a consistent frontrunner in the pre-election opinion polls at nearly 35%, and is widely believed to remain in the lead.Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) was a consistent frontrunner in the pre-election opinion polls at nearly 35%, and is widely believed to remain in the lead.
But Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) centre-right alliance, which narrowed the PD lead in the final weeks of campaigning, may have done enough to prevent his opponents winning an overall majority, our correspondent says.But Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) centre-right alliance, which narrowed the PD lead in the final weeks of campaigning, may have done enough to prevent his opponents winning an overall majority, our correspondent says.
Mr Grillo's Five Star Movement (M5S) was running third in the polls, with Mr Monti's party expected to gain fourth place. Mr Grillo's Five Star Movement was running third in the polls, with Mr Monti's party expected to gain fourth place.
The elections are taking place amid a deep recession and austerity measures, brought in by Mr Monti's government, that have caused widespread public resentment.The elections are taking place amid a deep recession and austerity measures, brought in by Mr Monti's government, that have caused widespread public resentment.
They are also being closely watched in the eurozone, with the Italian government's future commitment to austerity measures particularly under scrutiny.They are also being closely watched in the eurozone, with the Italian government's future commitment to austerity measures particularly under scrutiny.
If he wins the election, Mr Bersani, a former Communist, has pledged to continue with Mr Monti's reforms, but suggests current European policy needs to do more to promote growth and jobs.If he wins the election, Mr Bersani, a former Communist, has pledged to continue with Mr Monti's reforms, but suggests current European policy needs to do more to promote growth and jobs.
Emerging from one polling station in Milan, voter Attilio Bianchetti told Reuters: "I'm not confident that the government that emerges from the election will be able to solve any of our problems."Emerging from one polling station in Milan, voter Attilio Bianchetti told Reuters: "I'm not confident that the government that emerges from the election will be able to solve any of our problems."
Luciana Li Mandri, a civil servant in Palermo, shared his pessimism: "We're all about getting favours when we study, getting a protected job when we work. That's the way we are and we can only be represented by people like that as well."Luciana Li Mandri, a civil servant in Palermo, shared his pessimism: "We're all about getting favours when we study, getting a protected job when we work. That's the way we are and we can only be represented by people like that as well."
'The best''The best'
As Mr Berlusconi voted in Milan on Sunday, he was confronted by topless women with Basta Berlusconi (Enough Berlusconi) scrawled on them.As Mr Berlusconi voted in Milan on Sunday, he was confronted by topless women with Basta Berlusconi (Enough Berlusconi) scrawled on them.
The three-time PM is embroiled in two trials, accused of tax fraud and sex with an underage prostitute.The three-time PM is embroiled in two trials, accused of tax fraud and sex with an underage prostitute.
He has also been under fire for giving a TV interview on Saturday, which opponents said was a breach of the campaigning ban.He has also been under fire for giving a TV interview on Saturday, which opponents said was a breach of the campaigning ban.
Mr Berlusconi's office said the interview had been granted only with the explicit agreement that it would be broadcast after polls close on Monday.Mr Berlusconi's office said the interview had been granted only with the explicit agreement that it would be broadcast after polls close on Monday.
Some 47 million eligible voters are electing both chambers of parliament - the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Some 47 million eligible voters are electing both chambers of parliament - the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Control of both is needed in order to govern.
The electoral system is based on proportional representation and party lists, with a series of thresholds to encourage parties to form coalitions.
Recent polls have suggested that Mr Bersani's alliance could easily win the lower house of parliament, but may fail to gain a majority in the Senate.Recent polls have suggested that Mr Bersani's alliance could easily win the lower house of parliament, but may fail to gain a majority in the Senate.
The Senate is elected on a region-by-region basis and much may depend on the results from the heavily-populated regions around Milan and Naples, our correspondent notes.The Senate is elected on a region-by-region basis and much may depend on the results from the heavily-populated regions around Milan and Naples, our correspondent notes.
Many predict Mr Bersani will seek to form a coalition with Mr Monti if he fails to win an outright majority.Many predict Mr Bersani will seek to form a coalition with Mr Monti if he fails to win an outright majority.
However, observers say that the race has been thrown wide open by the popularity of Mr Grillo's M5S movement, whose activists show a searing contempt for Italy's traditional parties and the whole political establishment. However, observers say that the race has been thrown wide open by the popularity of Mr Grillo's 'Five Star' movement, whose activists show a searing contempt for Italy's traditional parties and the whole political establishment.
Are you in Italy? Will you be voting today? You can share your thoughts and experiences using the form below.Are you in Italy? Will you be voting today? You can share your thoughts and experiences using the form below.