Voting is set to resume in Italy on the second day of elections for a new parliament and prime minister. The main contenders for the premiership are centre-right former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the centre-left former mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni. With the economy a key election issue, both men have promised modest tax cuts and reductions in bureaucracy. Official figures suggest that nearly two-thirds of voters have already cast their ballots. Correspondents say the race is likely to be close, and the winner may have to broker a deal with smaller parties.
The main contenders for the premiership are centre-right former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the centre-left former mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni.
With the economy a key election issue, both men have promised modest tax cuts and reductions in bureaucracy.
Official figures suggest that nearly two-thirds of voters have already cast their ballots.
Correspondents say the race is likely to be close, and the winner may have to broker a deal with smaller parties.
Italians voted in their second general election in two years, and their 62nd since the war, in the knowledge that the result could well be a stalemate, and yet more elections down the road. In many polling stations yesterday, the turnout was down from the historically high figures of 2006, reflecting growing disillusionment with politicians across the political spectrum. Voting is spread over two days, so the exit polls will not be published until this afternoon.A voter in Sorrento, south of Naples, described by police as a 41-year-old limoncello producer, was arrested at a polling station after taking the oversize ballot paper which bears all the parties' symbols, then calmly tearing it into small pieces and eating it. He was charged by police with destroying election materials. Later he said: "All the politicians disgust me, I don't feel represented by anyone."
Italians voted in their second general election in two years, and their 62nd since the war, in the knowledge that the result could well be a stalemate, and yet more elections down the road.
In many polling stations yesterday, the turnout was down from the historically high figures of 2006, reflecting growing disillusionment with politicians across the political spectrum. Voting is spread over two days, so the exit polls will not be published until this afternoon.
A voter in Sorrento, south of Naples, described by police as a 41-year-old limoncello producer, was arrested at a polling station after taking the oversize ballot paper which bears all the parties' symbols, then calmly tearing it into small pieces and eating it. He was charged by police with destroying election materials. Later he said: "All the politicians disgust me, I don't feel represented by anyone."
ROME: Italians voted Sunday in a general election that could return the billionaire Silvio Berlusconi to power amid a widespread sense of national decline and fears that no candidate will be able to put the country back on track. Voting was scheduled to last until 10 p.m. and was to resume Monday morning and continue until early afternoon. The voting is being held under a discredited election law that many analysts say fosters instability. It comes amid worries of economic recession and disillusionment with a political class that many contend has failed to solve the nation's problems. A garbage collection crisis has left tons of trash piling up on the streets of Naples. Efforts to sell the loss-making national airline Alitalia are up in the air after a proposal by Air France-KLM has encountered the opposition of unions and political powers. A buffalo mozzarella health scare has hit one of the country's culinary treasures and hurt exports.
ROME: Italians voted Sunday in a general election that could return the billionaire Silvio Berlusconi to power amid a widespread sense of national decline and fears that no candidate will be able to put the country back on track.
Voting was scheduled to last until 10 p.m. and was to resume Monday morning and continue until early afternoon.
The voting is being held under a discredited election law that many analysts say fosters instability. It comes amid worries of economic recession and disillusionment with a political class that many contend has failed to solve the nation's problems.
A garbage collection crisis has left tons of trash piling up on the streets of Naples. Efforts to sell the loss-making national airline Alitalia are up in the air after a proposal by Air France-KLM has encountered the opposition of unions and political powers. A buffalo mozzarella health scare has hit one of the country's culinary treasures and hurt exports.
