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Italy election: Populist surge prompts political deadlock Italy election: Populist surge prompts political deadlock
(about 1 hour later)
Italy is on course for a hung parliament after voters backed right-wing and populist parties, projections based on partial results suggest. Italy's voters have turned to right-wing and populist parties in an election that is set to leave the country with a hung parliament.
The Eurosceptic, anti-establishment Five Star Movement has won the lion's share of the vote. The Eurosceptic, anti-establishment Five Star Movement was the biggest party with almost a third of the vote.
But ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing coalition, which includes the far-right League, looks set to win the most seats in the lower house of parliament. But a coalition of the far-right League and centre-right of ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is set to win most seats in the lower house of parliament.
Forming a government may now take weeks of negotiation and coalition-building.Forming a government may now take weeks of negotiation and coalition-building.
Alternatively, fresh elections could be held in a bid to produce a more decisive result - though there is no guarantee that would happen. One of the biggest winners was League leader Matteo Salvini who declared his party had the "right and duty" to govern at the head of a right-wing coalition.
Provisional results show Five Star garnering 31.6% of the vote, while the League received 18.2% of the vote and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia 13.8%. Results showed the League conquering broad swathes of Italy's north, while Five Star saw its strongest show of support in the south.
Matteo Renzi's ruling Democratic Party (DP) only got 19.1% of the vote, which La Repubblica newspaper says is a psychological blow to the party, as it has failed to win more than a fifth of the votes. Latest results show Five Star garnering 32.3% of the vote, while the League received 17.6% of the vote and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia 14%.
Broadly, support for the League came from votes in the north, while Five Star saw its strongest show of support in the south of the country. The ruling centre left lost ground, with Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD) securing only 18.9% of the vote. La Repubblica newspaper described its failure to win a fifth of the votes as a psychological blow.
Voter turnout was estimated at 73% on Monday morning, according to interior ministry figures.
What does the result mean?What does the result mean?
Though no party will be able to rule alone based on the early poll figures, the surge of support for populist outfits has been compared with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in the US. Though no party will be able to rule alone based on latest results, the surge of support for populist parties has been compared with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in the US.
Mr Berlusconi's coalition, which includes his Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party, plus anti-immigrant League and the far-right Brothers of Italy, is tipped to get 248-268 seats - below the 316 needed for a majority. The right-wing coalition, which includes the League, Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party and the far-right Brothers of Italy, is tipped to get 248-268 seats - below the 316 needed for a majority.
But Five Star, which has insisted on going it alone without forming a coalition, is expected to emerge as the largest single party in Italy's lower house, with 216-236 seats.But Five Star, which has insisted on going it alone without forming a coalition, is expected to emerge as the largest single party in Italy's lower house, with 216-236 seats.
Founded in 2009 by comedian Beppe Grillo, who denounced cronyism in Italian politics, Five Star is now led by Luigi Di Maio, 31. It has captured new voters in the poorer regions of southern Italy, feeding off anger over institutional corruption, economic hardship and immigration.Founded in 2009 by comedian Beppe Grillo, who denounced cronyism in Italian politics, Five Star is now led by Luigi Di Maio, 31. It has captured new voters in the poorer regions of southern Italy, feeding off anger over institutional corruption, economic hardship and immigration.
Italian voters appear to have abandoned Mr Renzi's DP because of dissatisfaction over these issues, and its centre-left coalition is projected to come a distant third, with an estimated 107-127 seats. Italian voters appear to have abandoned Mr Renzi's PD because of dissatisfaction over these issues, and its centre-left coalition is projected to come a distant third, with an estimated 107-127 seats.
Final confirmed results are not expected for several hours. BBC Europe editor Katya Adler tweeted that it was "theoretically possible for the EU's nightmare result to come true: a coalition between the 'populist Eurosceptics': Five Star and Lega [the League party]".
BBC Europe editor Katya Adler tweeted that it is "theoretically possible for the EU's nightmare result to come true: a coalition between the 'populist Eurosceptics': Five Star and Lega [the League party]". How Italy's press reacted
Voting for Italy's Senate, the upper house of parliament, also favoured populists and parties of the right. Five Star performed better than anticipated, with figures based on early vote-counting suggesting it will take the most seats - around 102-122 - but miss out on a majority. La Stampa (centre-left): Di Maio wins, Italy is ungovernable
La Repubblica (centre-left): Italy belongs to the Five Star Movement and the League; the Democratic Party is knocked out, Renzi on his way out
Libero (centre-right):A chaotic government of amateurs - anger and confusion at the polls: From bad to worse
Il fatto quotidiano (populist):The Five Star Movement soars, Renzi crashes, Salvini wipes out Berlusconi: Everything changes
BBC Monitoring
Italy vote: Who's who and why it matters
Results from the vote for Italy's Senate, the upper house of parliament, also favoured populists and parties of the right. Five Star performed better than anticipated and was forecast to take the most seats - around 102-122 - but miss out on a majority.
The right-wing coalition is predicted to get 118-150 seats in the upper house, and the Democratic Party 42-54.The right-wing coalition is predicted to get 118-150 seats in the upper house, and the Democratic Party 42-54.
Advantage Five Star - but what happens next?Advantage Five Star - but what happens next?
By James Reynolds, BBC News, MilanBy James Reynolds, BBC News, Milan
In Italy, the public vote is merely the first stage in a very long process of picking a new government - which is why party leaders here do not jump in front of the cameras in the hours after the polls close.In Italy, the public vote is merely the first stage in a very long process of picking a new government - which is why party leaders here do not jump in front of the cameras in the hours after the polls close.
We still don't know who the winner will be. But in this opening act, Five Star has gained a certain advantage. Its message clearly resonated with young people searching for jobs, and with voters in the poorer south of the country.We still don't know who the winner will be. But in this opening act, Five Star has gained a certain advantage. Its message clearly resonated with young people searching for jobs, and with voters in the poorer south of the country.
The movement made a big point of running alone in this election. By contrast, other major parties teamed up into electoral alliances. But the feature which gave the party its strength - its independence - may now become its weakness. In order to form a government, Five Star must find coalition partners. Its inexperience in working with others may be a disadvantage in the practical business of coalition-building.The movement made a big point of running alone in this election. By contrast, other major parties teamed up into electoral alliances. But the feature which gave the party its strength - its independence - may now become its weakness. In order to form a government, Five Star must find coalition partners. Its inexperience in working with others may be a disadvantage in the practical business of coalition-building.
So, which way will Five Star seek to turn? There is some speculation that the movement may seek a coalition with the anti-immigration League party, which appears to have performed better than its own alliance partners in this election.So, which way will Five Star seek to turn? There is some speculation that the movement may seek a coalition with the anti-immigration League party, which appears to have performed better than its own alliance partners in this election.
Five Star and the League have each criticised Italy's relationship with the European Union, although neither campaigns to leave the bloc. A potential alliance between the two would be viewed with some degree of worry in Brussels.Five Star and the League have each criticised Italy's relationship with the European Union, although neither campaigns to leave the bloc. A potential alliance between the two would be viewed with some degree of worry in Brussels.
Berlusconi's party outshone by alliesBerlusconi's party outshone by allies
Mr Berlusconi, 81, cannot hold public office himself until next year because of a tax fraud conviction. The vote comes as a blow to Silvio Berlusconi, 81, whose party led the right-wing coalition. But now Matteo Salvini has laid claim to that role.
And in a personal blow for him, Forza Italia looks likely to have been outdone by its ally, the League. He has promised to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants and spoken of the "danger" of Islam.
"My first words: THANK YOU," tweeted League leader Matteo Salvini as projections rolled in."My first words: THANK YOU," tweeted League leader Matteo Salvini as projections rolled in.
Four-time prime minister Mr Berlusconi has backed European Parliament President Antonio Tajani as his choice to lead the country. In any case Mr Berlusconi, 81, cannot hold public office himself until next year because of a tax fraud conviction. The four-time prime minister had backed European Parliament President Antonio Tajani as his choice to lead the country.
However, it is possible Mr Salvini - who has promised to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants and spoken of the "danger" of Islam - will now be eyeing the job.
How was the turnout?
Officials estimated voter turnout at more than 58% on Sunday evening, with several hours of voting still to go.
Long queues were seen at voting centres around the country, with residents in Rome asked to turn up well before polls closed at 23:00 (22:00 GMT) to make sure they had time to cast their ballots.
The delays are thought to have been caused by a new voting system and new in-depth, anti-fraud checks.
In Palermo, Sicily, 200,000 ballots had to be reprinted because of errors, which led to a delay in some polls opening.
What are the key issues?
Immigration
More than 600,000 migrants have made the treacherous journey from Libya across the Mediterranean to reach Italy since 2013.
The huge number of arrivals has upset many Italians - with politicians, including from the mainstream, toughening their rhetoric as a result.
Mr Berlusconi has called the presence of illegal migrants a "social time-bomb" and pledges mass deportations.
The campaign has seen violent clashes between far-right supporters and anti-fascist protesters.
The economy
Italy's economy has started to expand once again. But nearly 10 years on from the global financial crisis, Italy's gross domestic product - or total economic output - remains 5.7% lower than pre-crisis levels.
In 2016, some 18 million people were at risk of poverty, and unemployment is at 11%.
Economic policy has been a key battleground, but observers say they have heard more from parties about pensioners than youths, which could be due to young voters' high vote abstention rates.
More on Italy's vote:More on Italy's vote: