Italy

[ag]

Yes, it is slang for testicles, it is like fools, dickheads (?)...

Dickheads would be the closest methinks.

I suddenly have an amusing mental image of John Major describing voters leaving the Tories in '97 as "dickheads"

Any recent polls?

Well, wasn't the "putzhead' ("Neoyorquino" for "dickhead") what finished off Sen. D'Amato? Of course, he called this his opponent, not the  voters.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Well, wasn't the "putzhead' ("Neoyorquino" for "dickhead") what finished off Sen. D'Amato? Of course, he called this his opponent, not the  voters.

Talking of politicians insulting voters, Sir Anthony Beaumont-Dark died a few days ago.

[WMS]

Thanks to Jens, Old Europe, andrewa, and Al for clarifying the exact nature of Berlusconi's remark.

And Jens, corruption can erupt anywhere, in any country, even formerly clean ones...it doesn't take many people in power for that to happen *thinks, yet again, of my own state*

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that not only is Prodi going to win, it's not going to be that close. Close, but not Germany or even USA level. More like the last elections in the Iberian countries where the left took over.

[Keystone Phil]

I guess I'll make a prediction, too - a very narrow Berlusconi win.

[Platypus]

I'll predict a semi-strong showing for Forza Italia but a significant lessening of the rest of the center/right coalition vote-and a narrow Prodi win.

[minionofmidas]

Thanks to Jens, Old Europe, andrewa, and Al for clarifying the exact nature of Berlusconi's remark.

And Jens, corruption can erupt anywhere, in any country, even formerly clean ones...it doesn't take many people in power for that to happen *thinks, yet again, of my own state*

Except that Italy is emphatically NOT a "formerly clean" country... and to do whatever it takes to keep it from ever becoming one is Berlusconi's core policy ... and the source of much of his appeal to voters really...

[Upsilon]

I think Berlusconi will win, because Berlusconi IS Italy, Italians love Berlusconi.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Except that Italy is emphatically NOT a "formerly clean" country... and to do whatever it takes to keep it from ever becoming one is Berlusconi's core policy ... and the source of much of his appeal to voters really...

Sad thing is, that's probably true...

Voting has begun

[afleitch]

I wonder if anyone would dispute the legitimacy of a narrow Berlusconi victory?

[MasterJedi]

I wonder if anyone would dispute the legitimacy of a narrow Berlusconi victory?

I have no doubt they would but they really wouldn't have any grounds if nothing went wrong.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I wonder if anyone would dispute the legitimacy of a narrow Berlusconi victory?

I have no doubt they would but they really wouldn't have any grounds if nothing went wrong.

Please remember that this is Italy that you're talking about...

[Sarnstrom]

I hope Italy throws out that drunken idiot. Elect Romano Prodi!

[Democratic Hawk]

Lets face should he lose, Berlusconi can call sex chat lines, without being burdened so much by affairs of state, until his little heart is content

Dave

[afleitch]

I can't believe i'm rooting for the Left Coalition, but while I don't dislike Berlusconi individually his allies scare the be-jeezus out of me.

[Keystone Phil]

I hope Italy throws out that drunken idiot. Elect Romano Prodi!

I hope Italy rejects the elitist professor.     Silvio! Silvio!  




On another note, I should really call up my grandmother and have her call my great aunt (her sister) who still lives in Sicily and tell her to vote Casa della Liberta!

[Colin]

I can't believe i'm rooting for the Left Coalition, but while I don't dislike Berlusconi individually his allies scare the be-jeezus out of me.

I somewhat agree with you Afleitch. I'm supporting neither Prodi nor Burlusconi but Burlusconi's partners are fascists who only in the past 10 years or so have moved into a more traditional conservative position.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Any exit polls or results yet?

[2952-0-0]

Any exit polls or results yet?

No, elections there happen over two days, so we should know by tomorrow. Funny thing is, a while ago they had a referendum on whether abortion laws should be liberalized. The Catholic Church urged people to stay home, and it failed to garner 50% turnout.

[Keystone Phil]

If my timing is correct, the polls will close around 9 AM EST which means I'll be in school. I won't check the results until I get home so I'll be anxious for most of the day. Any idea when they'll have an idea of who won? If the picture starts to clear up about five hours after the polls close that would be awesome.

[Cubby]

Are there any websites that have Maps showing the results, like they had for the British and Canadian elections?

I tried Corriere della Serra (sp?) a big newspaper site but either the maps aren't up yet or they won't have any.

What parties does Basilicata usually vote for?

[freek]

Are there any websites that have Maps showing the results, like they had for the British and Canadian elections?

http://politiche.interno.it/

is the official site, in Italian.

Maybe Psephos might place some maps, they did do that for the 2001 elections: http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/i/italy/

You will also find the Basilicata results for the past elections there.

[freek]

Polls are closed.

First exit polls indicate that Berlusconi has lost the elections.

Prodi-group: 50-54%

Berlusconi-group: 45-49%

source: a Dutch news site, Italian sites seem to bit slow at the moment.

http://www.nu.nl/news/710167/21/Prodi_stevent_af_op_verkiezingswinst.html

[andrewa]

Second exit poll: House: Prodi 340 mp, Berlusconi 268 mp (12 foreigner too close to call)
Senate: Prodi 159-170 senators, Berlusconi 139-150 (6 foreigner senatots too close to call)

House has a national majority premium, Senate a regional premium (first coalition in each region catch 55% of seats).

[minionofmidas]

Party breakdown (exit poll; House)
Left-
Ulivo 32.5 210-225 seats (joint list of DS, Margherita, and one other group)
RC 6.5 40-44 seats
Rose in the Fist 3.3 19-25 seats (joint list of two groups)
Greens 2.6 15-19 seats
Italy of Values 2.3 12-17
PDCI 2.2 13-17 seats another commie splinter
UDEUR 1.3 7-12 seats - I thought you need 2% for seats?
others 1.5 3-5 seats (apparently for South Tirol's SVP)

Right-
FI 21.0 120-140 seats
AN 12.0 70-76 seats
UDC 7.0 40-45 seats
Lega 4.3 24-30 seats
others 2.8 4-8 seats for the nuovo PSI (Berlusconi-allied wing )

Others 0.7 0 seats

early results, for the senate, after 777 of many thousands of precincts...
Left 50.2
Right 48.6