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| Italy votes in election seen as key for economic recovery | Italy votes in election seen as key for economic recovery |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Italians have begun voting in general elections seen as crucial for the country's effort to tackle its economic problems, as well as for the eurozone. | Italians have begun voting in general elections seen as crucial for the country's effort to tackle its economic problems, as well as for the eurozone. |
| Estimates published before a ban on polls two weeks ago gave a lead to Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left alliance. | Estimates published 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. |
| The voters emerging from a polling station on a quiet street in Rome shared one thing in common - a sense that Italy is in deep trouble, and that this election matters. | |
| There was much talk of the country needing something "better" from its politicians. | |
| An actor called Mita said she wanted to see something "clean, clear, open and new" to emerge, a break with what she called the "old politics". And she thought the left of the spectrum might produce what she is after. | |
| A young man named Alex was excited by the possibility of a breakthrough by the Five Star Movement - a citizens' protest group. "Something different's coming up!" he said. "We want to change everything." | |
| In my wholly unscientific gathering of the views, it was hard to find anyone who spoke well of Silvio Berlusconi. But his promise to cut taxes and put money back in the pockets of ordinary Italians will appeal to significant numbers of voters. | |
| 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. |
| Hung parliament fears | Hung parliament fears |
| 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. |
| On the first voting day on Sunday, polls across Italy opened 08:00 (07:00 GMT) and will close at 22:00. | On the first voting day on Sunday, polls across Italy opened 08:00 (07:00 GMT) and will 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 47 million eligible voters are electing both chambers of parliament - 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. | Are you in Italy? Will you be voting today? You can share your thoughts and experiences using the form below. |