Political gridlock in Italy, no clear winner in poll
News & Trends •
italys national election produced no outright winner on sunday according to exit polls that pointed to possible political gridlock with voters backing anti-establishment and far-right parties in record numbers1 a rightist alliance emerged with the biggest bloc of votes ahead of the anti-establishment 5-star movement the largest single party polls showed. the ruling centre-left coalition came third hurt by anger over poverty and mass immigration1 full results are not expected for several hours and italian exit polls have previously given misleading initial readings1 heavily indebted italy is the third largest economy in the euro zone and prolonged political stalemate could make it the focal point of market concern now that the threat of instability in germany has receded thanks to the revival on sunday of a grand coalition under chancellor angela merkel1 the euro edged marginally higher in asia early on monday with investors awaiting clearer results from italy1 a poll for rai state television said a bloc of centre-right and far-right parties would win 33-36 percent of the vote short of the 40 percent analysts have said is the minimum needed to secure a majority under italys new electoral law1 within the alliance former prime minister silvio berlusconis forza italia go italy was seen winning 12.5-15.5 percent the same as the league which has allied itself to anti-immigration anti-islam parties across europe1 the 5-star led by 31-year-old luigi di maio was forecast to take 29.0-32.5 percent which would be a remarkable result for a group that was only formed in 2009. it has fed off public fury over entrenched corruption and economic hardship1 we will be a pillar of the legislature said a smiling alfonso bonafede a close ally of di maio told la71 a centre-left alliance dominated by former prime minister matteo renzis ruling democratic party pd was projected to win 25-28 percent but pollsters said the pd itself might end up only the fourth-largest group in the lower house of parliament1