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| Italy to vote in election seen key for economic recovery | Italy to vote in election seen key for economic recovery |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Italians are set to vote in general elections seen as crucial for the country's effort to tackle its economic problems, as well as for the eurozone. | Italians are set to vote in general elections seen as crucial for the country's effort to tackle its economic problems, as well as for the eurozone. |
| Estimates pushished before a ban on polls two weeks ago gave a lead to Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left alliance. | Estimates pushished before a ban on polls two weeks ago gave a lead to Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left alliance. |
| It was thought to be a few points ahead of the centre-right bloc led by ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. | It was thought to be a few points ahead of the centre-right bloc led by ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. |
| On Saturday, Mr Berlusconi gave a TV interview - in what his opponents said was a breach of the campaigning ban. | On Saturday, Mr Berlusconi gave a TV interview - in what his opponents said was a breach of the campaigning ban. |
| However, Mr Berlusconi's office later said the interview had been granted only with the explicit agreement that it would be broadcast after polls close on Monday. | However, Mr Berlusconi's office later said the interview had been granted only with the explicit agreement that it would be broadcast after polls close on Monday. |
| A centrist coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti is also running in the election, held on Sunday and Monday. | A centrist coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti is also running in the election, held on Sunday and Monday. |
| And opinion polls suggested there would be a strong turnout for popular comedian Beppe Grillo's anti-establishment movement. | And opinion polls suggested there would be a strong turnout for popular comedian Beppe Grillo's anti-establishment movement. |
| The election was called two months ahead of schedule, after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mr Monti's technocratic government. | The election was called two months ahead of schedule, after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mr Monti's technocratic government. |
| The voting is taking place amid a deep recession and austerity measures that have caused widespread public resentment. | The voting is taking place amid a deep recession and austerity measures that have caused widespread public resentment. |
| It is also being closely watched in the eurozone, with the Italian government's future commitment to austerity measures particularly under scrutiny. | It is also being closely watched in the eurozone, with the Italian government's future commitment to austerity measures particularly under scrutiny. |
| Hung parliament fears | Hung parliament fears |
| On the first voting day on Sunday, polls across Italy will open at 08:00 (07:00 GMT) and close at 22:00. | On the first voting day on Sunday, polls across Italy will open at 08:00 (07:00 GMT) and close at 22:00. |
| The voting will resume again on Monday at 08:00 and finish at 15:00. First results are expected in the early evening. | The voting will resume again on Monday at 08:00 and finish at 15:00. First results are expected in the early evening. |
| Some 47m eligible voters are electing both chambers of parliament - the The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. | Some 47m eligible voters are electing both chambers of parliament - the The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. |
| The electoral system is based on proportional representation and party lists, with a series of thresholds to encourage parties to form coalitions. | The electoral system is based on proportional representation and party lists, with a series of thresholds to encourage parties to form coalitions. |
| Mr Bersani's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) has been a consistent frontrunner in the opinion polls at nearly 35%. | Mr Bersani's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) has been a consistent frontrunner in the opinion polls at nearly 35%. |
| Mr Bersani, a former Communist, has pledged to continue with Mr Monti's reforms, but suggests current European policy needs to do more to promote growth and jobs. | Mr Bersani, a former Communist, has pledged to continue with Mr Monti's reforms, but suggests current European policy needs to do more to promote growth and jobs. |
| However, recent weeks have seen a narrowing of his lead over Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) alliance, who is critical of austerity measures. | However, recent weeks have seen a narrowing of his lead over Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) alliance, who is critical of austerity measures. |
| Mr Grillo's Five Star Movement (M5S) was running third in the polls. | Mr Grillo's Five Star Movement (M5S) was running third in the polls. |
| London-based analysts Capital Economics said an unclear outcome to the election was its biggest concern. | London-based analysts Capital Economics said an unclear outcome to the election was its biggest concern. |
| "A hung parliament might plunge Italy and the eurozone back into crisis rather sooner," it said. | "A hung parliament might plunge Italy and the eurozone back into crisis rather sooner," it said. |
| Are you in Italy? Will you be voting today? You can share your thoughts and experiences using the form below. |