Your current location is:{Current column} >>Text
Polls open in Italy, right
{Current column}98People have watched
Introduction6/6© Reuters. A man holding ballots walks inside a polling station during the snap election, in Rome ...

By Crispian Balmer and Keith Weir
ROME (Reuters) - Polls opened in Italy on Sunday in an election that is forecast to return the country's most right-wing government since World War Two and also herald its first woman prime minister.
Voting began at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will continue until 11 p.m. (2100 GMT) when exit polls will be published.
However, the complex calculations required by a hybrid proportional/first-past-the-post electoral law mean it may be many hours before a precise seat count is available.
A right-wing alliance led by Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party appeared on course for a clear victory when the last opinion polls were published two weeks ago.
But with a polls blackout in force in the two weeks before the election, there is still scope for a surprise.
There has been speculation that support for the left-leaning 5-Star Movement, the biggest party in 2018, has picked up in recent days.
A late surge by 5-Star could jeopardise the rightist alliance's chances of winning a majority in the Senate or upper house, complicating the process of forming a government.
Even if there is a clear cut result, the next government is unlikely to take office before late October, with the new parliament not meeting until Oct. 13.
Meloni would be the obvious candidate for prime minister as leader of an alliance also featuring Matteo Salvini's League party and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia.
That would cap a remarkable rise for Meloni, a 45-year-old from Rome whose party won only 4% of the vote in the last national election in 2018.
Italy's first autumn national election in over a century was triggered by party infighting that brought down Prime Minister Mario Draghi's broad national unity government in July.
Italy has a history of political instability and the next prime minister will lead the country's 68th government since 1946 and face a host of challenges, notably rising energy costs.
The outcome of the vote will also be watched nervously in European capitals and on financial markets.
European Union leaders, keen to preserve unity after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are concerned that Italy will be a more unpredictable partner than under former European Central Bank chief Draghi.
For markets, there are the perennial worries about Italy's ability to manage a debt pile that amounts to around 150% of gross domestic product.
Meloni plays down her party's post-fascist roots and portrays it as a mainstream conservative group. She has pledged to support Western policy on Ukraine and not take undue risks with an economy hit hard by rising prices.
Italy is also benefiting from 192 billion euros ($187 billion) of post-Covid EU recovery funds, offering a powerful incentive to stick to agreed reform plans.
However, there are signs of division between Meloni and her allies on foreign policy.
League leader Salvini has criticised the impact of higher energy prices on Italians, blaming it in part on the blowback from Western sanctions against Russia. Berlusconi sparked outrage late in the campaign when he appeared to defend Russian President Vladimir Putin.
($1 = 1.0252 euros)
Statement: The content of this article does not represent the views of FTI website. The content is for reference only and does not constitute investment suggestions. Investment is risky, so you should be careful in your choice! If it involves content, copyright and other issues, please contact us and we will make adjustments at the first time!
Tags:
Related articles
European stock futures higher; U.S. debt optimism, solid earnings help tone By
{Current column}- European stock markets are expected to open higher Friday, benefiting from the global optimism tha ...
Read moreIs Garson forex a legit or a scam? Garson forex Review
{Current column}FTI's top 100 forex brokers you can refer to for selection. If it is not in the top 100, you sho ...
Read moreIs Charleston a legit or a scam?Charleston Review
{Current column}FTI's top 100 forex brokers you can refer to for selection. If it is not in the top 100, you sho ...
Read more
Popular Articles
- U.S. natural gas storage has first spring build of 25 bcf vs. 28 bcf forecast By
- Is NYX Markets a legit or a scam? NYX Markets Review
- Is Charleston a legit or a scam?Charleston Review
- 稀万证券ACY Securities恶意克扣交易赠金
- PayPal lifts FY guidance as Q1 results top estimates By
- Is Garnet a legit or a scam? Garnet Review
Latest articles
-
7 analyst picks: Intel stock upgraded; 'things unlikely to get worse'
-
Is Narsq Futures a legit or a scam? Narsq Futures Review
-
Is VC Trade a legit or a scam? VC Trade Review
-
Is HK Deer a legit or a scam? HK Deer Review
-
European stocks lower; Chinese trade data disappoints By
-
Is Enge a legit or a scam? Enge Review