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Italy election: Early vote count shows tight race Italy election: Early vote count shows tight race
(35 minutes later)
Exit polls from Italy's general election suggest a lead for the centre-left bloc led by Pier Luigi Bersani. Early figures from Italy's election suggest a lead for the centre-left in the lower house but the centre-right seems to be leading in the Senate.
The bloc was projected to take 34.5% of the vote for the lower house with Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right group on 29% and a protest movement on 19%. Exit polls suggest Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left bloc took 34.5% of the vote for the lower house with Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right group on 29%.
But, according to an early count, Mr Berlusconi's bloc seems to be leading in the upper house race. But in the upper house, Mr Berlusconi's bloc is leading by 31.6% to 29.4%, an early vote count indicates.
A protest movement led by a former comedian is in third place.
The two-day vote marks a return to full-blown democracy for Italians after Mario Monti's technocratic government.The two-day vote marks a return to full-blown democracy for Italians after Mario Monti's technocratic government.
It is taking place amid a deep recession and austerity measures, brought in by Mr Monti, that have caused widespread public resentment.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. As the projections began to show no clear winner in the election, the Milan stock market dipped into negative territory after soaring nearly 4%.
Correspondents say Italy's EU partners and the financial markets want to see a stable outcome to the election, with a commitment to reform and debt-reduction.
The BBC's Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, says Brussels and Berlin would like to see Mr Bersani form a governing coalition with Mr Monti.
They fear that an uncertain outcome could lead to Greek-style paralysis in the euro-zone's third largest economy, he says.
Strong showingStrong 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.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.
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. The Senate race is being fought on a region-by-region basis.
Based on an early vote count, Mr Berlusconi's party won 31.6% in the Senate vote to 29.4% for the centre-left, 24.9% for Beppe Grillo's protest party and 9.2% for Mr Monti's centrist list. Mr Berlusconi's party was projected to win in Lombardy, Campania and Sicily. Based on the early vote count, which put Mr Berlusconi's coalition ahead of centre-left, Beppe Grillo's protest party was in third with 24.9% there and Mr Monti's centrist list fourth with 9.2%. Mr Berlusconi's party was projected to win in Lombardy, Campania and Sicily.
These results contrast sharply with exit poll data. These results contrast sharply with exit poll data which had Mr Bersani's party in the lead in the Senate.
Control of both the lower and upper houses of parliament is needed in order to govern.Control of 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 appears to have made a strong showing in the election with exit polls suggesting he attracted 20% of the vote. 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 19% of the vote in the lower house.
The election was called two months ahead of schedule, after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mr Monti's government.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 about 10% of the vote.Exit polls put Mr Monti's new centrist alliance in fourth place, with about 10% of the vote.
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