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| Italy rivals in final poll push | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Campaigning in Italy is in its final day ahead of this weekend's elections. | Campaigning in Italy is in its final day ahead of this weekend's elections. |
| The vote comes three years early, after Romano Prodi stepped down as prime minister when his coalition government collapsed in January. | The vote comes three years early, after Romano Prodi stepped down as prime minister when his coalition government collapsed in January. |
| Billionaire businessman and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, 71, wants a third term as prime minister. | Billionaire businessman and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, 71, wants a third term as prime minister. |
| His main rival is 52-year-old Walter Veltroni, the former mayor of Rome. Mr Berlusconi is ahead in opinion polls but 15% of voters are undecided. | His main rival is 52-year-old Walter Veltroni, the former mayor of Rome. Mr Berlusconi is ahead in opinion polls but 15% of voters are undecided. |
| 'Little difference' | 'Little difference' |
| At his final election rally in Rome on Thursday, Mr Berlusconi appealed to his supporters to bring in more voters. | At his final election rally in Rome on Thursday, Mr Berlusconi appealed to his supporters to bring in more voters. |
| "Get out there and do missionary work," he told a crowd of 3,000 supporters. | "Get out there and do missionary work," he told a crowd of 3,000 supporters. |
| Mr Berlusconi is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes the successful football club AC Milan. | Mr Berlusconi is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes the successful football club AC Milan. |
| He is heading a new party - the People of Freedom (PDL). | |
| Mr Veltroni is also leading a new party - the Democratic Party. | Mr Veltroni is also leading a new party - the Democratic Party. |
| He compares himself to US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and has promised to boost pay and pensions to stimulate the Italian economy. | He compares himself to US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and has promised to boost pay and pensions to stimulate the Italian economy. |
| In truth, there is little to choose between the policies of the two candidates, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome. | In truth, there is little to choose between the policies of the two candidates, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome. |
| Both are promising to lower taxes and to cut public spending, our correspondent says. | Both are promising to lower taxes and to cut public spending, our correspondent says. |
| The Italian debt is now 1,400bn euros (£1,100bn; $2,200bn) - more than the annual GDP. | The Italian debt is now 1,400bn euros (£1,100bn; $2,200bn) - more than the annual GDP. |
| The cost of paying the annual interest on that debt is around 1,200 euros per Italian - and all the signs point to the situation getting worse. | The cost of paying the annual interest on that debt is around 1,200 euros per Italian - and all the signs point to the situation getting worse. |