Italian voters snub Berlusconi
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative coalition was reeling today from a heavy defeat in regional elections.
It was a vote seen as a key test of the government’s popularity ahead of a general election expected next year.
The centre-left won governorships in nine regions and the ruling centre-right just two with results declared for all but two of the 13 regions. In those regions, centre-left candidates were ahead.
“We have largely won, both in the number of votes and of regions,” said opposition leader Romano Prodi, who is expected to stand against Berlusconi next year. “With this vote, Italians are asking us to get ready to govern.”
Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini acknowledged the opposition victory.
“It’s unequivocal that the centre-left has won,” he said. “For the coalition and our voters, this was not a happy day.”
But he said the result may have weakened the governing coalition’s political power but “does not mean it should resign”.
