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Italy election: Bersani's centre-left 'ahead in polls' Italy election: Bersani's centre-left 'ahead in polls'
(35 minutes later)
Early exit polls from Italy's general election show a lead for the centre-left bloc led by Pier Luigi Bersani.Early exit polls from Italy's general election show a lead for the centre-left bloc led by Pier Luigi Bersani.
The polls suggest Mr Bersani's alliance has taken around 34% of the vote for parliament's lower house, ahead of Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right group with 29%, Sky Italia reports. The polls suggest Mr Bersani's alliance has taken as much as 38% of the vote ahead of Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right group with up to 31%.
Beppe Grillo's protest movement is projected to take nearly 20% of votes.Beppe Grillo's protest movement is projected to take nearly 20% of votes.
The two-day vote is seen as crucial for efforts to tackle Italy's economic problems, as well as for the eurozone. The two-day vote marks a return to full-blown democracy for Italians after a period of rule under a technocratic government led by Mario Monti.
The election was called two months ahead of schedule, after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mario Monti's technocratic government. rel="stylesheet" rev="stylesheet" href="http://static.bbci.co.uk/modules/twitter/0.1.64/css/gel_preset.css"/> rel="stylesheet" rev="stylesheet" href="http://static.bbci.co.uk/modules/twitter/0.1.64/css/gel_single_account.css"/>
It is taking place amid a deep recession and austerity measures, brought in by Mr Monti, that have caused widespread public resentment.
The vote is also being closely watched in the eurozone, with the Italian government's future commitment to austerity measures particularly under scrutiny.
The first results based on partial vote counts are due in the next few hours.The first results based on partial vote counts are due in the next few hours.
Coalition talk Strong showing
Shortly after voting ended at 15:00 (14:00 GMT), exit polls for both Sky and Rai television gave the centre-left a roughly 5.5-point lead in the lower house and a six-point lead in the Senate.Shortly after voting ended at 15:00 (14:00 GMT), exit polls for both Sky and Rai television gave the centre-left a roughly 5.5-point lead in the lower house and a six-point lead in the Senate.
Sky reported that the centre-left had 34.5%, the centre-right had 29%, Mr Grillo's Five Star movement had 19% and Mr Monti's bloc had just under 10%.
If the exit polls are confirmed, they would echo the opinion polls prior to the election which made Mr Bersani's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) a consistent frontrunner to secure the lower house with nearly 35%.If the exit polls are confirmed, they would echo the opinion polls prior to the election which made Mr Bersani's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) a consistent frontrunner to secure the lower house with nearly 35%.
However, Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) centre-right alliance may yet prevent Mr Bersani from winning an overall majority in the Senate, which is being fought on a region-by-region basis.However, Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) centre-right alliance may yet prevent Mr Bersani from winning an overall majority in the Senate, which is being fought on a region-by-region basis.
Sky's exit poll indicates the two blocs are tied in Lombardy, a key region in Italy's rich industrial north. Much may well depend on the outcome of the race for Senate seats in the heavily-populated region around Milan, the BBC's Alan Johnston reports from Rome.
Sky's exit poll indicates the two blocs are tied in Lombardy, a rich industrial region in the Italian north which includes Milan.
Control of the both the lower and upper houses of parliament is needed in order to govern.Control of the both the lower and upper houses of parliament is needed in order to govern.
Many predict Mr Bersani, a former Communist, will seek to form a coalition with Mr Monti if he fails to win an outright majority.Many predict Mr Bersani, a former Communist, will seek to form a coalition with Mr Monti if he fails to win an outright majority.
Mr Bersani has pledged to continue with Mr Monti's tough reforms, but suggests current European policy needs to do more to promote growth and jobs.Mr Bersani has pledged to continue with Mr Monti's tough reforms, but suggests current European policy needs to do more to promote growth and jobs.
The fiercely anti-establishment Five Star movement of former comedian Beppe Grillo drew wide and growing support during the campaign, and threatened to be the major upset for the election. The fiercely anti-establishment Five Star movement of former comedian Beppe Grillo drew wide and growing support during the campaign, and appears to have made a strong showing in the election with exit polls suggesting he attracted 20% of the vote.
The election was called two months ahead of schedule, after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mr Monti's government.
Exit polls put Mr Monti's new centrist alliance in fourth place, with 10% of the vote.