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Silvio Berlusconi loses Milan and Naples in local polls | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition has lost control of Milan and Naples in local elections. | |
The run-off polls are being seen as a key test of Mr Berlusconi's popularity, as he faces multiple corruption trials and sex scandals. | |
Centre-left candidate Giuliano Pisapia won in Milan with about 55% of the vote over Mayor Letizia Moratti. | |
Milan, Mr Berlusconi's powerbase, has been run by conservatives for 18 years. | |
The city, Italy's financial capital, is Mr Berlusconi's birthplace and where he got his start in business and politics. | |
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. | 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. |
Ms Moratti got 45% of the vote in Milan. | |
In Naples, Luigi de Magistris of the Italy of Values party won by a landslide with 65% of the vote over Mr Berlusconi's candidate, Gianni Lettiere, with 35%. | |
Mr Lettiere had been seen as the favourite but failed to win an outright majority in the first round of voting earlier in May. | |
'Slap in the face' | |
Analysts say the loss in Milan could threaten the coalition of Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom party (PDL) with the Northern League, which has become increasingly disenchanted with the prime minister. | |
On a visit to Romania with Mr Berlusconi on Monday, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, from the Northern League, said the government would not fall, Reuters news agency reported. | |
He said the vote was a "slap in the face" to the government, which would now have to work on regaining popular support. | |
The prime minister said before the vote that to lose in Milan was "unthinkable" and called the city election a referendum on his leadership. | |
Campaigning became increasingly vicious before the vote, with Mr Berlusconi warning that Milan would be turned into "Gypsytown" if Ms Moratti was defeated. | Campaigning became increasingly vicious before the vote, with Mr Berlusconi warning that Milan would be turned into "Gypsytown" if Ms Moratti was defeated. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |