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Italy's ruling coalition won key northern provinces in weekend
local elections but the left-wing opposition performed better than
expected after weeks of scandals surrounding Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi.
The opposition Democratic Party, which had already lost control of
several regional governments in a first round of voting this month,
was facing humiliation in second round runoffs in its central
Italian strongholds Bologna and Florence.
Results on Monday showed the PD comfortably held the two cities
while Berlusconi's People of Liberty party and its Northern League
allies only won control of the north provinces of Milan and Venice
by the narrowest of margins.
A referendum on electoral reform was declared void after just 23%
of the electorate turned out to vote - well short of the 50%
required to make it binding.
The results, with the left gaining ground from the June 6-7 first
round, suggested scandals over Berlusconi's private life may have
taken a toll on the 72-year-old media tycoon's party.
"I thank Italians for the consensus they have given to the People
of Liberty, even more than in the past, despite an election
influenced by media distortions and subversive attacks from an
editorial group against the prime minister," Berlusconi, who
controls three of Italy's TV channels, said.
In recent weeks, Berlusconi has been buffeted by reports of his
relationship with an
18-year-old model
, use of state planes to fly
his guests, and his wife's public demands for a
divorce
.
Last week, allegations emerged that
escort girls
were paid to attend one his
parties in Rome, prompting embarrassing media coverage as the
Italian leader prepares to host a G8 summit next month.
The leader of the PD, Dario Franceschini, hailed the result as a
turning point: "The decline of the right has begun. Those who did
not vote sent a clear signal to the government."
The referendum on electoral reform, backed by Berlusconi's
government, would have given bonus seats to the largest party in
Italy's parliament, not the biggest coalition as at present.
It was strongly opposed by the Northern League, which stood to
lose parliamentary seats.
The League blocked an attempt to move the referendum to coincide
with the first round of local elections and European parliament
polls - which could have prompted a higher turnout.
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