Count bolsters Prodi but Berlusconi won't quit

CENTRE-left leader Romano Prodi has moved a step closer to becoming the next Italian prime minister with the Interior Ministry sharply lowering the number of contested ballots in the closely fought election.

As judges counted contested ballots and Italians awaited the final word, Mr Prodi reiterated his confidence, while caretaker Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi still refused to concede.

"The match is over," Mr Prodi said in Bologna, where he was spending Easter weekend. "Now let's move on."

Mr Berlusconi said he did not intend to concede. "We carry on, we'll resist," he told a small group of supporters gathered outside his residence.

In a letter to be published today in the Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, Mr Berlusconi insisted the situation was stalled. "At least on the basis of the popular vote, there's no winner and no loser," news agencies quoted the letter as saying.

The Interior Ministry said the contested ballots numbered only about 5200 — compared to the more than 80,000 previously indicated — dashing Mr Berlusconi's hopes of retaining power.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/...521545026.html

Opinions on the Italian election?

Yes apparently several 100 000 people voted via a computer system and there were a lot of problems so berlusconi demanded a recount (which is his right to ask) but they wont give him a recount.(they only did a few thousand) berlusconi blames the left wing to have messed with the votes.
It was a hard campaign and it's still not over.
In his campaign Berlusconi called all people not voting for the Right coalition of Berlusconi an asshole!!! ,on national television. Prodi and berlusconi also started to offend each other during TV debates etc..

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe...eut/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html

duce of a new generation

That's what I 'love' about Italian politics. They're pretending to be everyone but real politics. It's a real circus. It's time to let it go for Berlusconi, he's just a mafioso.

Italian politics is actually really good for entertainment purposes. They don't seem to hold back when insulting each other. Prodi now wants an apology: ""I am waiting for a phone call from Mr Berlusconi because this is what happens in mature democracies."

Ouch. Makes the Common's heckling look tame.

I'm pleased that Prodi won - hopefully they'll sort out the economy and revise the foreign policy - shifting the focus back to Europe and supporting the EU constitution, rather than concentrating on the military plans of the Bush Administration.

oh god i'm glad i wasn't at home for the elections! my mom said that all tv channels and the news were freaked out when berlusconi lost the elections!
actually, i prefer prodi and i would have voted him, only to see berlusconi's face turning like the munch scream!
=

berlusconi is only bush cuntmuffin and we all know it (especially in italy)! let's hope that things will be better with prodi!