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| Berlusconi 'wins' Italy election | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Italy's conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi is set to win Italy's general election, according to projections from partial results. | Italy's conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi is set to win Italy's general election, according to projections from partial results. |
| The projected results showed Mr Berlusconi's coalition ahead for both the lower house and the Senate. | |
| Mr Berlusconi's main rival, the centre-left leader Walter Veltroni, has acknowledged losing the election. | |
| The vote was held three years ahead of schedule after the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition. | |
| With the economy a key election issue, both men had promised modest tax cuts and reductions in bureaucracy. | With the economy a key election issue, both men had promised modest tax cuts and reductions in bureaucracy. |
| Talks expected | Talks expected |
| A projection on RAI state TV showed Mr Berlusconi 6% ahead in the lower house. The channel projected that he would win 164 seats in the Senate, compared to 139 for his rivals. | |
| Another projection gave Mr Berlusconi a lead of about 9% in both parliament and the Senate. | |
| Official results may not be issued until Tuesday. | Official results may not be issued until Tuesday. |
| PROJECTED RESULTS CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES (630 SEATS): Centre-right bloc 45%; centre-left bloc 39% (Rai)Centre-right bloc 46.5%; centre-left bloc 37.7% (Ipsos) SENATE (315 SEATS): Centre-right bloc 164 seats; centre-left bloc 139 (Rai)Centre-right bloc 47.2%; centre-left bloc 38.1% (Ipsos) | PROJECTED RESULTS CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES (630 SEATS): Centre-right bloc 45%; centre-left bloc 39% (Rai)Centre-right bloc 46.5%; centre-left bloc 37.7% (Ipsos) SENATE (315 SEATS): Centre-right bloc 164 seats; centre-left bloc 139 (Rai)Centre-right bloc 47.2%; centre-left bloc 38.1% (Ipsos) |
| If victory is confirmed, Mr Berlusconi, a 71-year-old tycoon, will take up a third term in office. | |
| Neither of the main contenders can hope for an overall majority without the help of their allies or other minor parties, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome. | Neither of the main contenders can hope for an overall majority without the help of their allies or other minor parties, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome. |
| The Northern League, part of Mr Berlusconi's "Freedom Coalition", is believed to have put up a surprisingly strong showing, getting between an estimated 6%-8% of the votes in both houses. | The Northern League, part of Mr Berlusconi's "Freedom Coalition", is believed to have put up a surprisingly strong showing, getting between an estimated 6%-8% of the votes in both houses. |
| Tricky coalition talks are expected in the coming days. | Tricky coalition talks are expected in the coming days. |
| The next government faces the task of reviving Italy's ailing economy, with zero growth forecast for the coming year. | The next government faces the task of reviving Italy's ailing economy, with zero growth forecast for the coming year. |
| Economic pinch | Economic pinch |
| Although Italy faces a massive public debt, both candidates promised tax cuts and handouts to voters. | Although Italy faces a massive public debt, both candidates promised tax cuts and handouts to voters. |
| Italy's economy has been suffering from low productivity and a strong euro, and analysts say young people, pensioners and low-income workers are feeling the pressure. | Italy's economy has been suffering from low productivity and a strong euro, and analysts say young people, pensioners and low-income workers are feeling the pressure. |
| Both candidates had promised to revitalise Italy's economy | |
| Some 158 different parties contested the regional and national polls, including Mr Berlusconi's new conservative People of Freedom (PDL) and Mr Veltroni's recently formed Democratic Party (PD). | Some 158 different parties contested the regional and national polls, including Mr Berlusconi's new conservative People of Freedom (PDL) and Mr Veltroni's recently formed Democratic Party (PD). |
| At the start of the election campaign, opinion polls gave Mr Berlusconi's bloc a commanding lead, but it had narrowed as the election drew near. | At the start of the election campaign, opinion polls gave Mr Berlusconi's bloc a commanding lead, but it had narrowed as the election drew near. |
| At 80%, the final turnout appears to have been lower than in the last election, two years ago. | At 80%, the final turnout appears to have been lower than in the last election, two years ago. |
| Mr Berlusconi has served two terms as prime minister, last resigning in May 2006. | Mr Berlusconi has served two terms as prime minister, last resigning in May 2006. |
| The billionaire, believed to be Italy's richest man, is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes the successful football club AC Milan. | The billionaire, believed to be Italy's richest man, is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes the successful football club AC Milan. |
| Mr Veltroni, 52, is a former communist who served for seven years as mayor of Rome before taking over the leadership of the centre-left coalition led by Mr Prodi after his government collapsed in January. | Mr Veltroni, 52, is a former communist who served for seven years as mayor of Rome before taking over the leadership of the centre-left coalition led by Mr Prodi after his government collapsed in January. |
| The new government will be Italy's 62nd since World War II. | The new government will be Italy's 62nd since World War II. |