Prodi claims victory in Italian election; Berlusconi refuses to concede
{{date|April 11, 2006}}
Italian opposition leader [[w:Romano Prodi|Romano Prodi]], leader of the center-left coalition ''L'Unione'' (''Lit.'' "[[w:The Union (political coalition)|The Union]]"), was declared the victor today in parliamentary elections held Sunday and Monday, but Prime Minister [[w:Silvio Berlusconi|Silvio Berlusconi]] has yet to concede his office.

Official but not yet confirmed results indicate that ''L'Unione'' won control of the lower house or [[w:Chamber of Deputies of Italy|Chamber of Deputies]] with 49.8% of the vote to 49.7% for Berlusconi's center-right Casa delle Libertà (''Lit.'' "The [[w:House of Freedoms|House of Freedoms]]") coalition.  The winning party automatically receives a minimum of 55% of the seats in the lower house, giving Prodi at least 340 seats in the 630-seat Chamber.

Berlusconi, however, claims that his party would control the 315-seat [[w:Italian Senate|Senate]] by one vote, resulting in a split parliament. The current results, however, show Prodi with a 158-156 lead in the Senate, giving him enough seats of support in both houses. Berlusconi's spokesman also indicated that his party has requested a recount.

Italian law requires that the prime minister receive the support of both houses of Parliament.  Should the two houses be controlled by different coalitions, the stalemate would result in new elections.  A caretaker government would rule in the meantime.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/04/10/italy.elections/index.html|title= Italy: Prodi claims poll victory|author=|pub=CNN|date=April 11, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12229641/|title=Italy heads toward split parliament|author=|pub=MSNBC|date=April 10, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060411/ap_on_re_eu/italy_election;_ylt=A0SOwkyEGjxEvF0BWA2s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--|title=Challenger Earns Narrow Victory in Italy|author=Maria Anminiatelli|pub=Associated Press|date=April 11, 2006}}

[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Italian Parliament]]
[[Category:Romano Prodi]]


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[[es:Romano Prodi vence a Berlusconi en las elecciones italianas por un escaso margen]]
[[fr:Élection parlementaires 2006 en Italie]]
[[it:Elezioni politiche italiane 2006]]
[[ja:イタリア総選挙、野党が小差で勝利―プローディ氏首相就任へ]]
[[pl:Wybory parlamentarne we Włoszech: Prodi przed Berlusconim]]
[[sv:Romano Prodi utropade sig till segrare i det italienska valet]]
Italian opposition leader Romano Prodi, leader of the center-left coalition L'Unione (Lit. "The Union"), was declared the victor today in parliamentary elections held Sunday and Monday, but Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has yet to concede his office.

Official but not yet confirmed results indicate that L'Unione won control of the lower house or Chamber of Deputies with 49.8% of the vote to 49.7% for Berlusconi's center-right Casa delle Libertà (Lit. "The House of Freedoms") coalition.  The winning party automatically receives a minimum of 55% of the seats in the lower house, giving Prodi at least 340 seats in the 630-seat Chamber.

Berlusconi, however, claims that his party would control the 315-seat Senate by one vote, resulting in a split parliament. The current results, however, show Prodi with a 158-156 lead in the Senate, giving him enough seats of support in both houses. Berlusconi's spokesman also indicated that his party has requested a recount.

Italian law requires that the prime minister receive the support of both houses of Parliament.  Should the two houses be controlled by different coalitions, the stalemate would result in new elections.  A caretaker government would rule in the meantime.


es:Romano Prodi vence a Berlusconi en las elecciones italianas por un escaso margen
fr:Élection parlementaires 2006 en Italie
it:Elezioni politiche italiane 2006
ja:イタリア総選挙、野党が小差で勝利―プローディ氏首相就任へ
pl:Wybory parlamentarne we Włoszech: Prodi przed Berlusconim
Italy Europe Politics and conflicts Italian Parliament Romano Prodi