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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (163204)	4/9/2006 5:23:10 PM
From: RinConRon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793914

Italians vote in election that may oust Berlusconi By Robin Pomeroy 49 minutes ago ROME (Reuters) - Italians voted on Sunday in a two day election that could oust Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the media tycoon who promised prosperity but failed to lift Italy's flagging economy during five years in power. ADVERTISEMENT Polling stations closed their doors at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) after a busy first day of voting and will re-open on Monday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. (0500-1300 GMT). Berlusconi faces a fierce challenge from his long-standing political foe, Romano Prodi, a former European Commission president and the leader of a broad centre-left coalition. "I slept very well, it's a beautiful sunny day and I hope everything finishes in the best possible way," said Prodi as he voted in his home town of Bologna in northern Italy. Softly spoken Prodi is favorite to beat the flamboyant Berlusconi, whom he accuses of economic mismanagement and embarrassing Italy with a stream of gaffes. Berlusconi, the U.S. government's strongest ally in continental Europe and Italy's richest man, still hopes his late promises of tax cuts will swing a surprise victory. True to form, Berlusconi caused a minor stir when he went to vote in Italy's financial capital, Milan, with his 95-year-old mother Rosa, who kissed his hand for the cameras. "Put a cross on the Forza Italia! (his party) logo," Berlusconi told Rosa, and was immediately censured by a scrutineer who considered the remark campaigning. "Not even with my mother? You really are the Italy that has no love," replied a smiling Berlusconi who has rejected a string of accusations of bending Italy's election campaign rules. TURNOUT VITAL Opinion polls have not been published for two weeks, but Prodi, who beat Berlusconi in a general election 10 years ago, has led the race since returning to Italian politics in 2004 from a five-year stint as head of the European Commission. Bookmakers said most punters appeared to be betting on a Prodi victory. Pundits say a large turnout would give Berlusconi the greatest chance of survival as centre-right voters are generally less politically motivated than those on the left. By 7 p.m. (1700 GMT) turnout was 52.1 percent, the Interior Ministry said, against 59.0 percent at the last parliamentary ballot in 2001. That vote took place on just one day. First exit polls are expected immediately after voting ends on Monday afternoon with official results likely in the evening. The acrimonious campaign, in which Berlusconi used offensive language against centre-left voters and Prodi compared his rival to a drunk, has turned the vote into something of a referendum on the prime minister's term as head of a conservative alliance. "I've got flu and a fever but I'm still determined to vote because I don't want to see Italy in this state for another five years," said social worker Marina Zappaterra, voting in Rome. Whoever wins will face the task of cutting the world's third largest national debt pile while trying to breathe new life into an economy that grew an average of 0.6 percent a year under Berlusconi. Prodi, if elected, would also need to manage a disparate coalition, ranging from communists to centrist Roman Catholics, united mostly by a dislike of Berlusconi. Among their plans is "conflict of interest" legislation that would force Berlusconi to choose between politics and his financial interests stretching from television to top soccer team AC Milan. A new voting system also means whoever wins is likely to enjoy a smaller majority than the outgoing administration. That has raised fears of a return to the "revolving-door" leadership which Berlusconi ended by becoming the head of Italy's longest serving postwar government. Italy has had 60 administrations since World War Two. If Prodi's bloc wins, relations between Rome and Washington could cool. Analysts say he would put Europe rather than the United States first in his list of priorities.