Italians returned to the polls Monday for a final day of voting to deliver a
verdict on conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media mogul
who failed to jump-start a flat economy as the nation's longest-serving premier
since World War II.
Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi casts
his vote during the Italian general elections in Milan, April 9.
[AFP] |
Trying to oust the flamboyant Berlusconi from the premier's office was Romano
Prodi, an economics professor and former European Union chief who defeated him
for the premiership in 1996.
Polls were not allowed to be published in the two weeks before the vote, but
earlier surveys gave a slight edge to Prodi.
After 14 hours of voting on Sunday, two-thirds of Italy's 47 million eligible
voters had cast ballots, the Interior Ministry said.
Surveys had shown that much of the electorate was unenthusiastic about the
race.
Linda Mille, a doctor, said Sunday that she voted for the center-left to boot
Berlusconi out of power: "I don't think there can be anyone worse than
Berlusconi."
In Rome, 79-year-old Antonio Recine said he voted for the right, brushing off
economic concerns. "All told, it doesn't seem to me like we're starving here,"
he said.