ROME, September 25 (Reuters) –
The Italians did not seem to have massively mobilized on Sunday for the early legislative elections which seem promised an alliance dominated by the extreme right, whose leader Giorgia Meloni should become the first woman presidency of the Council.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 11 p.m., when the first exit polls will be released.
But several hours will be necessary before obtaining an accurate count of the seats, given the mixed voting system, combining majority voting and proportional voting.
As downpours fell over much of Italy on Sunday, only 51% of readers had turned up four hours before the polls closed, down seven points from the previous poll. , in 2018, the same time.
The latest polls, released two weeks ago, gave the post-fascist Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) party of Giorgia Meloni and Allies the clear lead in voting intentions.
But a rise in the 5 Star Movement (M5S) polls a few days before the election could jeopardize the rights alliance’s chances of securing a majority in the Senate, which could complicate the formation of a government.
“Long live democracy,” proclaimed Matteo Salvini, the leader of the League, the other far-right party allied to Fratelli d’Italia, after having voted for Milan. (Report Crispian Balmer and Keith Weir, French version Matthieu Protard and Tangi Salan)