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Italy election run-offs test Silvio Berlusconi Silvio Berlusconi 'loses key cities' in local elections
(about 6 hours later)
Italians are voting for the second and final day in local election run-offs seen as a major test for embattled Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition has lost control of Milan and Naples, early projections suggest after local polls.
The key battlegrounds are Mr Berlusconi's home city of Milan and also Naples, where the centre-right ruling coalition risks losing power. Italians were voting in run-off polls for local elections seen as a major test for the embattled prime minister.
The polls are being held in cities where no candidate won 50% of the vote in the first round on 15-16 May. Milan, Italy's financial capital, is Mr Berlusconi's home city and power base.
Overall, Mr Berlusconi's coalition fared badly in the first round. If confirmed, it would be the first time in two decades Mr Berlusconi has lost control of the city. His coalition fared badly in the first round.
'Gypsytown' Some six million voters were eligible to cast their ballots in 90 towns and six provinces, but the results in Milan and Naples are seen as most important.
The polls opened at 0700 local time (0500 GMT) on Monday and will close at 1500. Projections published by Italian media indicated leftist candidate Giuliano Pisapia with a lead of about 53.5% in Milan over pro-Berlusconi incumbent Mayor Letizia Moratti, with 46.5%.
Some six million voters are eligible to cast their ballots. Results are expected within hours of voting ending. In Naples, Luigi de Magistris of the Italy of Values party was projected to have about 60% of the vote, well ahead of centre-right candidate Mario Lettieri, who had been seen as the favourite.
The elections are the first big test Mr Berlusconi has faced since the start of his trial on charges of abuse of power and having had sex with an underage prostitute, the BBC's Mark Duff in Milan reports. Analysts say a loss in Milan would threaten the coalition of Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom party (PDL) with the Northern League, which has become increasingly disenchanted with Mr Berlusconi.
Our correspondent adds that the battle for control of Milan has been a no-holds-barred affair. The prime minister said previously that to lose in Milan was "unthinkable" and called the city election a referendum on his leadership.
Mr Berlusconi's ally, the incumbent Mayor Letizia Moratti, was left trailing with 41.6% of the vote behind the centre-left Giuliano Pisapia, who won 48% in the first round. Campaigning became increasingly vicious before the vote, with Mr Berlusconi warning that Milan would be turned into "Gypsytown" if Ms Moratti was defeated.
The prime minister is understood to have taken the defeat in Milan very badly. Earlier in May, five TV stations - including several owned by Mr Berlusconi's Mediaset - were fined by Italian regulators for giving Mr Berlusconi more coverage than his opponents.
He said previously that to lose there was "unthinkable" and called the city election a referendum on his leadership. The elections are the first big test he has faced since the start of several corruption trials and scandals - including allegations of having had sex with an underage prostitute.
Mr Berlusconi also warned that Milan would be turned into "Gypsytown" if his candidate for mayor was defeated.
Ms Moratti's defeat angered Mr Berlusconi's coalition partners, the anti-immigration Northern League, who also did badly in the first round.
In Naples, the centre-right, led by Gianni Lettieri, is seen as the favourite to win, although some analysts say the centre-left candidate Luigi de Magistris could still benefit from votes transferred from the other challenger in the first round.