NATIONAL

House of Representatives.

The Camera went to the Unione Coalition led by Romano Prodi by the slimmest of margins – 49.8 per cent to Berlusconi’s Casa Della Liberta’s 48.7 per cent. Unione polled 19,001,684 votes while CDL mustered 18,976,460 which means a difference between both coalitions of just 25,224 votes. The turnout was 83.7 per cent, an increase of around 2 per cent over 2001. However, the advantage in seats is much greater at 348 to 281 with one Independent, making Prodi’s task of continuing in government slightly easier.

If one had to compare the votes of the large parties, the centre-left Ulivo polled the largest number of votes at 11,928,362 or 31.3 per cent. Far behind comes Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia at 9,045,384 or 23.7 per cent. Next come Gianfranco Fini’s Alleanza Nazionale with 4,706,654 votes or 12.3 per cent, the UDC with 2,579,951 or 6.8 per cent and Rifondazione Communista at 2,229,604 or 5.8 per cent.

REGIONAL

Abruzzo:

This small region went to the Unione by a slim margin of 52 to 48 per cent for Casa della Liberta. Prodi’s coalition managed 457,380 votes compared to 407,271 votes for Berlusconi’s CDL. Unione won eight seats whilst CDL won six seats.

Basilicata:

Another small southern region registered a clear victory for the centre-left. Unione polled 220,880 votes or 60 per cent while the CDL were far behind at 145,251 or 39.5 per cent. This resulted in a seat count of 4-2 for Prodi’s L’Unione.

Calabria:

This large southern region has always been a reliable leftist stronghold with hotbeds such as Catanzaro and Cosenza. Prodi’s Unione mustered 643,148 votes or 56.7 per cent while the CDL managed 485,583 votes for a seat count of 14-8. The turnout was 74.2 per cent, again up by almost 4 per cent from the 70.2 per cent registered in 2001.

Campania 1:

This south-central region famous for the leftist stronghold of Napoli registered a slim victory for the centre-left. L’Unione mustered 948,016 votes or 52.4 per cent while the Casa della Liberta’ polled 855,070 votes or 47.3 per cent. The seat count was 19-14 in favour of L’Unione on a turnout of 78.7 per cent, an increase of 2.5 per cent over 2001.

Campania 2:

The second Campania region registered a slim victory for the CDL but L’Unione still won on seats. The Casa della Liberta’ managed to garner 841,544 votes or 50.4 per cent while L’Unione mustered slightly less; 823,503 or 49.3 per cent. Seats went by 16-13 for L’Unione on a turnout of 78.7 per cent (+1.1 over 2001).

Emiglia-Romagna:

With the Communist diehards of Bologna and a liberal streak throughout the region, Emiglia Romagna remains the safest haven for the centre-left. L’Unione polled 1,755,888 votes or 59.9 per cent while the CDL managed just 1,174,259 votes or 40.1 per cent. Turnout was extraordinarily high at 89.5 per cent, practically on the 2001 level of 88.8 per cent.

Friuli-Venezia-Giulia:

This uppermost northern region registered a comfortable win for Berlusconi’s CDL with 441,194 votes or 54.5 per cent. L’Unione polled 362,945 votes or 44.8 per cent with seats going 7-6 in favour of the CDL. Turnout was up by over six per cent to 84.6 per cent.

Lazio 1:

The nation’s capital city region registered a strong win for Prodi’s L’Unione. The centre-left polled 1,379,527 votes or 52.3 per cent while the CDL mustered 1,255,581 or 47.6 per cent. Seats went by 23 to 17 in favour of L’Unione on a turnout of 84.8 per cent up by around four per cent over 2001.

Lazio 2:

As in Campania, the second part of Lazio voted in favour of the CDL who managed to poll 561,793 votes or 56 per cent. L’Unione managed just 442,093 votes or 44 per cent on a turnout of 84.8 per cent. Seats went by 8-7 in favour of Casa della Liberta’.

Liguria:

This strategically important region containing the famous port of Genoa went quite comfortably to L’Unione who polled 584,190 votes or 53.6 per cent. The CDL mustered 505,029 votes or 46.4 per cent with seats going by 10 to 7 in favour of the centre-left. Turnout was marginally up to 83.5 per cent.

Lombardia 1:

The most populous region in Italy has always been a stronghold for the centre-right although the Left pipped it in seats. The Casa della Liberta’ managed 1,382,124 votes or 53.7 per cent while L’Unione polled 1,193,368 or 46.3 per cent. Seats went by 21-19 to Prodi’s coalition on a turnout of 87.6 per cent.

Lombardia 2:

This is the strongest CDL region for Berlusconi, including his home town of Milan and where he again registered a crushing victory. The Right obtained 1,697,011 votes or 61.1 per cent while the Left managed just 1,080,817 votes or 38.9 per cent. Seats went by 24-19 in favour of CDL on a record turnout of 87.6 per cent.

Lombardia 3:

Another handy win for the CDL here although by a lesser margin. They polled 539,548 votes or 53.8 per cent whilst L’Unione managed 463,773 votes or 46.2 per cent. The turnout was 87.6 per cent with seats going 8-7 in favour of Prodi’s coalition.

Marche:

The region that includes Ancona went quite easily to L’Unione who polled 564,345 votes compared to 457,646 votes for the CDL. This means a 55.2-44.8 per cent split with 10 seats going to L’Unione and six seats to the Casa della Liberta’. Turnout was two per cent higher than 2001 at 86.4 per cent.

Molise:

This small region saw the highest turnout increase, a jump from 69.8 per cent in 2001 to 82.4 per cent this time. L’Unione narrowly won with 106,369 votes or 50.9 per cent of the vote compared to 102,601 votes for the CDL which meant 49.8 per cent. Two seats went to L’Unione while one went to the CDL.

Piemonte 1 and 2:

The first region which includes Turin easily went to L’Unione who polled 828,547 votes or 55.2 per cent while the CDL managed 666,162 or 44.6 per cent. Seats went 14-10 to Prodi’s coalition on a high turnout of 84.8 per cent.

In the second region, we had an inverse result as the CDL, strong in the provinces of Asti and Vercelli easily took the prize with 55.9 per cent of the vote. The CDL managed 781,369 votes compared to 616,728 for L’Unione or 44.1 per cent. Seats were split 11-11.

Puglia:

This southern region including Bari, Lecce and Taranto produced a narrow victory for the CDL who managed 1,290,440 votes or 51.5 per cent compared to the 1,209,070 votes or 48.3 per cent for L’Unione who however were ahead on seats by 23 to 21. Turnout was quite high at just under 80 per cent but lower when compared to Italy as a whole.

Sardegna:

The first island region was an easy win for L’Unione who polled 550,849 votes or 52.5 per cent compared to the 475,970 votes or 44.3 per cent polled by the CDL. Seats went 10-8 in favour of Prodi’s coalition on a low turnout of 77.9 per cent.

Sicilia 1 and 2:

Our neighbours voted en masse in favour of Berlusconi’s CDL in both regions. In the first, the CDL obtained 761,987 votes or 56 per cent while L’Unione garnered just 591,801 votes or 43.5 per cent. Turnout was the lowest in all Italy at 75 per cent in both Sicilia One and Two.

The second region was even heavily skewed in favour of the CDL who mustered 905,622 votes or 59.5 per cent compared to a paltry 616,906 or 40.5 per cent for L’Unione. Seats went 13-13 in the first and 15-13 to the CDL in the second.

Toscana:

This famously leftist region including the liberal cities of Florence, Livorno and Pisa went easily to L’Unione with 61.7 per cent of the vote, the highest margin in all regions. The CDL polled just 958,152 votes or 38.2 per cent whilst the centre-left managed 1,546,592 votes. Seats went 25-13 in favour of L’Unione on a turnout of 87.4 per cent.

Trentino Alto Adige:

This small northern region also provided an impressive win for L’Unione who polled 397,361 votes or 62 per cent compared to the CDL with 226,361 votes or 35.3 per cent. Seats went 8-3 to the centre-left on a high 87.7 per cent turnout.

Umbria:

Another small central region went easily to L’Unione who won 337,407 votes or 57.5 per cent of the vote. The CDL managed just 249,099 votes or 42.5 per cent with seats going 6-3 in favour of L’Unione. Turnout was rather high at 87.1 per cent compared to 85.8 per cent in 2001.

Veneto 1 and 2:

Both regions registered strong victories for the Casa Della Liberta’ rounding off this election analysis for the Camera. In the first region, the CDL managed 1,128,960 votes or 58.8 per cent with L’Unione registering just 747,290 votes or 38.9 per cent. In the second region, the CDL managed 680,871 votes or 53.5 per cent while L’Unione managed 532,891 votes or 42.2 per cent. Seats went 16-13 and 10-10 in favour of the CDL.