- Title: ITALY: Polls close in Italian elections, first exit polls announced
- Date: 14th April 2008
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (APRIL 14, 2008) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING IN THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (ITALIAN) MAN, NAME UNKNOWN SAYING: "I hope it doesn't finish like last time, I hope that someone wins and that it's Berlusconi" (SOUNDBITE) (ITALIAN) MAN, NAME UNKNOWN SAYING: "It is encouraging considering that Berlusconi was expected to be so much ahead. It is indeed encouraging." PEOPLE IN THE STREET
- Embargoed: 29th April 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAGT2HFDJC9EEDVYQ3PCKP3FQQ
- Story Text: Polls closed on Tuesday (April 14) in Italy's two-day elections but the nation will have to wait until later in the evening to see whether centre-right billionaire Silvio Berlusconi or centre-left leader Walter Veltroni will be chosen to lead the country out of economic crisis.
"The result, as we know, is very difficult to call - we won't have any idea until probably quite late tonight who has won," explained politics professor from Rome's American University, James Walston.
"'If the turnout continues to be low, as it was on Sunday, then that should normally favour the centre-left," he said.
"But the way in which the campaigns have been going, and the alienation of the centre-left as well means that it may not be that way, and it makes it even more difficult to call," he said.
According to the exit poll run on Italian broadcaster Sky Italia media magnate Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right group won 42 per cent of the vote while former mayor Walter Veltroni's centre- left group got 40 per cent.
If the outcome were confirmed, the 71-year-old centre-right leader would become prime minister for the third time.
The immediate reaction of voters was mixed.
"It is encouraging considering that Berlusconi was expected to be so much ahead. It is indeed encouraging " one voter said referring to Berlusconi's consistent 5-9 percentage point poll lead before the election.
"I hope it doesn't finish like last time, I hope that someone wins and that it's Berluscon," another voter said.
A close race could force the winner into a coalition with smaller parties. Both Berlusconi and Veltroni deny they would form a coalition together. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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