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| Berlusconi declares election win | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi warned of "difficult months ahead" as he declared a decisive victory in Italy's general election. | |
| The 71-one-year-old media mogul said he was willing to work with the opposition to pass much needed economic reforms. | The 71-one-year-old media mogul said he was willing to work with the opposition to pass much needed economic reforms. |
| Mr Berlusconi spoke soon after rival Walter Veltroni admitted defeat. | Mr Berlusconi spoke soon after rival Walter Veltroni admitted defeat. |
| The results return Mr Berlusconi for a third term in office as Italian prime minister. His new government will be Italy's 62nd since World War II. | The results return Mr Berlusconi for a third term in office as Italian prime minister. His new government will be Italy's 62nd since World War II. |
| The vote was held three years ahead of schedule after the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition. | The vote was held three years ahead of schedule after the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition. |
| 'Affectionate kiss' | 'Affectionate kiss' |
| With most results counted, the interior ministry said Mr Berlusconi's centre-right had taken 47% in the Senate, compared to 38% for the centre-left. | With most results counted, the interior ministry said Mr Berlusconi's centre-right had taken 47% in the Senate, compared to 38% for the centre-left. |
| Official results showed the tycoon's coalition had won 46.5% of the vote in the lower house Chamber of Deputies, while the centre-left was trailing on nearly 38%. | |
| PROJECTED RESULTS CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES (630 SEATS): Centre-right bloc 46.5%; Centre-left bloc 37.8% SENATE (315 SEATS): Centre-right bloc 47.2%; Centre-left bloc 38.1% Interior ministry figures | |
| Tricky coalition talks are expected in the coming days. | Tricky coalition talks are expected in the coming days. |
| In a telephone call to Rai TV, Mr Berlusconi said he was moved by the faith that so many citizens had placed in him. | In a telephone call to Rai TV, Mr Berlusconi said he was moved by the faith that so many citizens had placed in him. |
| "We have difficult months ahead that will require great strength," he said. | "We have difficult months ahead that will require great strength," he said. |
| Mr Berlusconi said his slimmed-down cabinet would have 12 ministers, including four women. | |
| Before ringing off, he added: "An affectionate kiss to all Italians." | Before ringing off, he added: "An affectionate kiss to all Italians." |
| He also said his immediate priorities would be the sale of the loss-making national airline Alitalia and the crisis caused by uncollected mountains of rubbish in Naples. | |
| The next government also faces the task of reviving Italy's ailing economy, with zero growth forecast for the coming year. | |
| The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the winner could find he has been passed a poisoned chalice, perhaps explaining why neither leader seemed very keen to win this a lacklustre campaign. | |
| Massive debt | Massive debt |
| Although Italy is saddled with a massive public debt, both candidates had 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. |
| Mr Veltroni narrowed Mr Berlusconi's lead in polls but it was not enough | Mr Veltroni narrowed Mr Berlusconi's lead in polls but it was not enough |
| 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 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 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. |
| One of Italy's richest men, he is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes the top flight football club AC Milan. | One of Italy's richest men, he is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes the top flight football club AC Milan. |
| Mr Veltroni 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 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. |