Italy

[2952-0-0]

With 37,756 of 60,828 of House precincts reporting, the Unione is leading 50.8 to 48.7, which is getting closer and closer. In the Senate with 52,645 out of 59,816 reporting the CdL leads 49.8 to 49.3. Overseas Italians account for 6 senators and 12 reps, so it might be a photo finish.

[2952-0-0]

With 37,756 of 60,828 of House precincts reporting, the Unione is leading 50.8 to 48.7, which is getting closer and closer. In the Senate with 52,645 out of 59,816 reporting the CdL leads 49.8 to 49.3. Overseas Italians account for 6 senators and 12 reps, so it might be a photo finish.

Of the overseas Italian vote:
Europe House-6 reps
L'Unione
6.590   61,9   -
Forza Italia
1.772   16,7   -
Di Pietro Italia dei Valori
477   4,5   -
Udc
398   3,7   -
Partito Italiani nel mondo
360   3,4   -
Per Italia nel mondo-Tremaglia
266   2,5   -
L'altra Sicilia - per il Sud
246   2,3   -
Lega Nord
226   2,1   -
Alter. Soc. Mussolini
171   1,6   -
Amare l'Italia
80   0,8   -
Udeur Popolari
56   0,5

North America House-2 reps
Forza Italia
635   32,7   -
L'Unione
579   29,8   -
Per Italia nel mondo-Tremaglia
410   21,1   -
Udc
220   11,3   -
Alter.Indip. Italiani all'estero
41   2,1   -
Lega Nord
40   2,1   -
Fiamma Tricolore
18   0,9   -

Asia Africa Oceania House-1 rep
L'Unione
10   37,0   -
Forza Italia
9   33,3   -
Per Italia nel mondo-Tremaglia
7   25,9   -
Lega Nord
1   3,7   -

Latin America House-3 reps
Ass. italiane in Sud America (how would those align?)
692   24,8   -
L'Unione
682   24,4   -
Forza Italia
645   23,1   -
Udc
462   16,6   -
Per Italia nel mondo-Tremaglia
223   8,0   -
Unione sudam. Emigrati italiani
45   1,6   -
Lega Nord
38   1,4   -
Udeur Popolari
4   0,1   -

Senate results for overseas Italians cannot be found.

[afleitch]

SKY Italia have video coverage here:

http://live.corriere.it/

[Middle-aged Europe]

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...

Well, that wasn't really my point, although I could have worded it better. I was referring more to, say, a certain former German Social Democratic Prime Minister who inked a certain natural gas pipeline deal with the Russians and then took a certain well-paid position with the Russians on said pipeline deal after being ousted from office...all after criticizing another certain country's President over corruption over oil and natural gas in a certain country. Not to mention the whole turning a blind eye to German companies operating as shells to funnel illegal weapons technology to the Iranians... "Formerly Clean", I believe?

This reminds me of what my American visiting professor said to us when he had heard of Gerhard Schröder's new job: "Congratulations, that your political elite has now become as corrupt as ours."

[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*

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...

Well, that wasn't really my point, although I could have worded it better. I was referring more to, say, a certain former German Social Democratic Prime Minister who inked a certain natural gas pipeline deal with the Russians and then took a certain well-paid position with the Russians on said pipeline deal after being ousted from office...all after criticizing another certain country's President over corruption over oil and natural gas in a certain country. Not to mention the whole turning a blind eye to German companies operating as shells to funnel illegal weapons technology to the Iranians... "Formerly Clean", I believe?

This reminds me of what my American visiting professor said to us when he had heard of Gerhard Schröder's new job: "Congratulations, that your political elite has now become as corrupt as ours."

Aren't you proud

[Middle-aged Europe]

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...

Well, that wasn't really my point, although I could have worded it better. I was referring more to, say, a certain former German Social Democratic Prime Minister who inked a certain natural gas pipeline deal with the Russians and then took a certain well-paid position with the Russians on said pipeline deal after being ousted from office...all after criticizing another certain country's President over corruption over oil and natural gas in a certain country. Not to mention the whole turning a blind eye to German companies operating as shells to funnel illegal weapons technology to the Iranians... "Formerly Clean", I believe?

This reminds me of what my American visiting professor said to us when he had heard of Gerhard Schröder's new job: "Congratulations, that your political elite has now become as corrupt as ours."

Aren't you proud

Sure.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Current House figures give U a small lead. Current projection for the House is, literally, neck-and-neck.

[afleitch]

Projections seem to be flickering by 10ths of a percent, which scarily makes the difference. I would think Prodi will win the Chamber and Berlusconi the Senate

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Projections seem to be flickering by 10ths of a percent, which scarily makes the difference.

Indeed. Isn't the Italian electoral system truely crazy? Berlusconi set it up to maximise his chances of winning, btw... under the old system (abolished but a few months ago) he'd probably have lost the Chamber already.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

That's looking quite possible now; U have just gone up another 0.1% in the Chamber, btw...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Rai have updated their projection; it is now 49.8%/49.8%

[afleitch]

Interesting nugget: The voting age for the Chamber of Dupties is 18 but for the Senate its 25.

[afleitch]

I heard Prodi speak. Using my rubbish school Italian he seems to be saying it's tight. But the man sounded exhausted but calm.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Only about 5k precincts in the Chamber to count. And about 2k for the Senate; there seems to have been a lull in the counting of that.

[afleitch]

The left's lead in the Camera is now down to 0.33%

EDIT now at 0.29

EDIT 2: 0.15%

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Less than 1,000 precincts to go now. Unione has a lead of 0.1%

[ag]

499 precincts left. The difference is about 37.5 thousand votes in favor of the left.

EDIT: 407 precincts left, the left leads by 41.5 thousand votes, but over half of the remaining precincts are in Sicilly.

EDIT 392 precincts, the left now leads by 42.5 thousand votes, but 216 precincts remain in Sicilly. What are the Sicillians waiting for? Hm.

EDIT 174 precincts left. Sicilly has reported all but 7 precincts. The left lead is down to just over 27 thousand votes!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

There's just been a big leap in the number reporting, and the Left's lead has gone down to 27,000

[Filuwaúrdjan]

EDIT 174 precincts left. Sicilly has reported all by 17 precincts. The left lead is down to just over 27 thousand votes!

Thanks for answering my question

[Keystone Phil]

Ok did I justs see something big? Wasn't the Senate in the left's control not too long ago? They just had it 151-149 for Berlusconi on the webcast.

[ag]

115 precincts left to report. 25.5 tousand lead for the left!

[Keystone Phil]

115 precincts left to report. 25.5 tousand lead for the left!

Where are you following this? Post link!

[ag]

http://www.repubblica.it/speciale/2006/elezioni/camera/index.html

[ag]

Ok did I justs see something big? Wasn't the Senate in the left's control not too long ago? They just had it 151-149 for Berlusconi on the webcast.

This has happened a few hours ago. Actually, looks like the ballance will be held by senators from abroad and senators for life.

[Keystone Phil]

Ok did I justs see something big? Wasn't the Senate in the left's control not too long ago? They just had it 151-149 for Berlusconi on the webcast.

This has happened a few hours ago. Actually, looks like the ballance will be held by senators from abroad and senators for life.

Yeah, they probably said that, too, but I don't speak Italian so I didn't catch it.     Thanks for the link and explanation. Keep it up, Casa della Liberta!

[ag]

62 precincts left to report, 34 of these in the Berlusconi-leaning Lazio II. The left lead is 25.5 thousand

EDIT 36 precincts to report. Correction: the left lead is 27.5 thousand (excitement, excitement). But almost all the remaining precincts are in Lazio II.