Italy parliamentary elections outcome raises possibility of political ...

With 99.9 percent of the ballots counted for the lower house, or Chamber of Deputies, Bersani?s coalition polled 29.54 percent, compared to 29.18 percent for Berlusconi?s bloc. The ballots cast by about 3 million Italian citizens abroad are yet to be counted, but this will hardly change the results. Bersani?s razor-thin victory means that his coalition will take 340 seats in the 630-seat lower house.

In the Senate, Berlusconi?s and Bersani?s coalitions won 116 seats and 113 seats, respectively, something that may considerably complicate the process of forming a new government, says Rome-based political analyst Michele Comelli.

"Forming a new coalition government may prove a tricky task, Comelli says, referring to Bersani?s and Monti?s persistent unwillingness to create a coalition. Even if formed, the coalition government may well resign several months later, something that will mean another early election in Italy."

Theoretically, Bersani and Berlusconi could create a coalition with outgoing Prime Minister Mario Mon, whose centrist coalition obtained 10 percent of the vote. This would help the country continue a spate of economic reforms aimed at resolving the crisis, a step that Berlusconi rejects. As for Bersani, he remains at odds with Monti over a host of pressing issues.

Surprisingly, the Five Star Movement, led by popular comedian and blogger Beppe Grillo won more than a quarter of the overall votes, in a move that reflects the protest mood in the society, according to Vladislav Belov, of the Moscow-based Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Beppe Grillo has repeatedly been up in arms against the eurozone. Actually, he united all those who withdrew their support from both Berlusconi and Bersani. These people voice protest against the current political situation in Italy.

Meanwhile, Silvio Berlusconi has already promised to consider creating a coalition with Bersani?s bloc. Berlusconi stressed the importance of creating a new government in Italy as soon as possible, a government that analysts say will hopefully be able to call the shots.

Source: http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_02_26/Italy-parliamentary-elections-outcome-raises-possibility-of-political-gridlock-analysts/