Italian PM Berlusconi in re-election battle (Italian Elections Live Thread)

BBC Europe ^

[HHKrepublican_2]

Italians are voting in a general election, with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi facing a strong challenge from centre-left leader Romano Prodi.

The polls remain open all day on Sunday and close at 1500 (1300 GMT) on Monday.

Some 50 million Italians are eligible to take part in the vote. But opinion polls showed many were undecided.

Mr Berlusconi, a billionaire, has led Italy's longest-serving government since World War II. The economy has proven sluggish for much of his tenure.

The campaign was marked by acrimony, with Mr Berlusconi using vulgar language to describe left-wing voters and Mr Prodi likening him to a drunk.

[HHKrepublican_2]

Lets hope the luck of Iraq sticks with him. (Luck of Iraq...Bush, Blair, Howard all Re-Elected...those against the war...Schroeder; voted out and Chirac is second most unpopular second to only DeVillepen) Let the live threading madness begin!

[veronica]

Bad news for us if he loses. PRAY... he wins.

[A message]

Hi Claudia,

Keep us updated.

Good luck today and prayers.

[Bogey78O]

Let me guess, center-left= full blown socialist?

[Heartofsong83]

Don't forget Paul Martin was also voted out.

I think that the incumbent will stay in power in Italy. When do the polls close? Why do they vote on Sunday there anyway???

[MassachusettsGOP]

After they go to Church downtown, they can just walk over to the voting booth.

[an italian]

in 2004 some FRiends told me, when I thougt Bush wasn't re-elected: " keep up your spirit, it isn't over until it's over"...

that's what i'm trying to do now...

[an italian]

i've voted CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY, a party with Forza Italia of Silvio Berlusconi. I hope he'll be my President for five more years!!!

[MassachusettsGOP]

House of Freedoms (For Berlusconi)


Forza Italia (Berlusconi's Own Party)


National Alliance (Conservative Party)


UDC (Moderate Catholic Party)


Northern League (Regional)

New DC-NPSI (A Christian Dem/Socialist Union Party)

Others include: Social Alternative (Mussolini's Granddaughters party)

Tricolour Flame (Neo-Fascist Party)

Liberal Reformers (Libertarians)

No Euro Movement (Euro-Skeptics)



The Union (For Prodi)


Olive Tree (Social-Democratic)


Communist Refoundation Party


Rose in the Fist (Socialist Libertarians)


Party of Italian Communists


Federation of the Greens (Green Party)

Others Include: Italy of Values (Moderate Leftist)

Popular-UDEUR (centrist)

The Socialists (small Socialist Party)

Pensioners' Party (Elderly Person's Issue Party)


--------------------------
Latest Polling (March 20-22)(Not allowed 15 days before electon)
Average: House of Freedoms 46.82%
The Union 52.36%

[Dad yer funny]

hey , just a FRiendly FReeper thanks from NYC

[pierrem15]

FORZA ITALIA!

Prodi is another Euro-Communist who wants Italy placed under the power of Brussels just as it once was under the power of the Hapsburgs.

[Feiny]

I really admire Berlusconi & hope he wins.

[Feiny]

"Prodi wants Italy placed under the power of Brussels "

You have GOT to be kidding me. He wants to be elected and then surrender to Brussels?

[pierrem15]

No, I'm not kidding-- the hope of the whole European left lies in using Brussels to do a tag team on their national electorates:

a) demagogue left-wing issues at home that favor them (protectionist legislation, greater benefits for workers, etc.), even when these run counter to EU rules;

b)use Brussels to push social and environmental legislation that they can't get passed in their national parliaments when they are out of power;

The left plays the same game with the SCOTUS here: can't win an election? No problem! Justice Kennedy will enact your social legislation for you! Win an election, and then you can ignore the Constitution and push the law ever more to the left with the silent acquiescence of the SCOTUS.

[toldyou]

I love your home page and your feelings about America! Thank you! I love Italy, too. I have been there several times; the most recent trip was in November. Can't wait to go back! Your country is beautiful, and your people are wonderful!

[TFFKAMM]

As an American of half-Italian descent, I thank you for your kind words about America, and pray that your great nation will choose its leadership wisely.

[Buck W.]

Thank you for the uplifting posts. My grandparents came to America from Palermo and Bari, and I'm proud to call myself an American of Italian descent.

[pierrem15]

Former President of the European Commission, at which time he did not hesitate to use the authority of his office to attack Berlusconi and reward his political allies in Italy.