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Italy vote: Bersani and Renzi in Democratic Party poll Italy vote: Pier Luigi Bersani 'tops centre-left poll'
(about 3 hours later)
Italians have been voting in the final round of the contest for the leadership of the centre-left Democratic Party. Pier Luigi Bersani is in front in the race to be the centre-left candidate for Italian PM in next year's general election, exit polls suggest.
The run-off vote pitches veteran party leader Pier Luigi Bersani against Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi, who is 37. The veteran Democratic Party leader is in a run-off with Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi, 37, to retain his post.
With the party leading opinion polls, the winner has a good chance of becoming Italy's next PM in elections scheduled for early 2013, analysts say. With the party leading opinion polls, the winner has a good chance of becoming head of government after polls scheduled for early 2013, analysts say.
Those elections will choose a successor to PM Mario Monti's government. Those polls will choose successors to the current technocrat administration.
Mr Monti's successor will face the challenge of addressing Italy's deep-rooted economic problems. Prime Minister Mario Monti's successor will face the challenge of addressing Italy's deep-rooted economic problems.
Mr Bersani won the party's primary on 25 November, winning 45% of the vote to Mr Renzi's 35.5%. Mr Bersani won the party's primary on 25 November, winning 45% of the vote to Mr Renzi's 35.5%. Sunday's exit polls saw him polling more than 60%.
Mr Renzi appears to have already conceded, tweeting that "it was right to try".
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says the two men are very different characters, with tieless, youthful Mr Renzi painting himself as the voice of a new generation which wants to sweep away the entire class of older politicians.The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says the two men are very different characters, with tieless, youthful Mr Renzi painting himself as the voice of a new generation which wants to sweep away the entire class of older politicians.
By contrast, adds our correspondent, 61-year-old Mr Bersani is very much a figure from that older generation. By contrast, adds our correspondent, 61-year-old Mr Bersani has argued that his life-time of experience is what the country needs, and he will now relish the prospect of preparing his party for the general election, with the centre-right in disarray.
A minister in previous governments, he accepts that the leftist establishment that he represents has disappointed its followers in the past, but emphasises the importance of experience. Speculation has been mounting as to whether its leader, Silvio Berlusconi, would run for a fourth term in office, with the former prime minister suggesting last week that he was thinking about returning to politics.
Speculation has been mounting as to whether Silvio Berlusconi would run for a fourth term in office, with the ex-premier suggesting last week that he was thinking about returning to politics. The billionaire tycoon's record has been tarnished by sex and political scandals, and he resigned as prime minister in November 2011, after MPs approved an austerity deal to help curb the debt crisis threatening the eurozone.
The billionaire tycoon's record has been tarnished by sex and political scandals, and he resigned as prime minister in November 2012, after MPs approved an austerity deal to help curb the debt crisis threatening the eurozone.