Italy election 2013: Results inconclusive, Beppe Grillo gets 25% vote

The parliamentary elections in Italy have concluded inconclusively, with the probability of a hung parliament, as Pier Luigi Bersani’s centre-left bloc has barely beaten ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi in the Lower House. But Pier Luigi Bersani’s bloc has not been able to attain a majority in the Senate. Control of the Italian Senate and of the Lower House is essential to govern Italy with a working majority. An anti-Euro protest party, the Five Star Movement, headed by comedian Beppe Grillo, has obtained 25% of the votes in the Italy parliamentary polls for the Lower House.

The inconclusiveness of the results of the Italy parliamentary election is sure to add additional political unsteadiness to Italy as the uncertain results will make it difficult for the Parliament to enact the austerity reforms. The austerity reforms need to be ratified by the Italian Parliament to remedy the Italian recessionary crisis and to thwart a fresh round of global economic turmoil. Austerity measures have to be ratified by the Parliament to keep Italy within the Eurozone.

Statistically speaking, the Italy election 2013 has led to Pier Luigi Bersani’s leftist Democratic Party coalition acquiring 29.55% of the vote. Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right Freedom Party coalition has received 29.18% of the vote in the elections in Italy.

The Democratic Party also conquered the national vote for the Senate, but was not able to procure the 158 seats needed for a working majority. Interestingly, as bonus seats are distributed in the Senate according to regional votes, Silvio Berlusconi’s Freedom Party-led bloc is likely to emerge with a higher number of senatorial seats (116 seats as opposed to 113 seats for the Democratic Party). Silvio Berlusconi is marching to victory in three of the four major Italian regions i.e. Lombardy, Campania and Sicily.

Meanwhile, the centrist Civic Choice movement, led by Mario Monti, attracted 10.56% of the vote in the parliamentary elections in Italy. Mario Monti, who was the preceding unelected technocratic PM of Italy, had attempted to reduce public spending to heal the Italian financial crisis. But his endeavours were disliked by a majority of the public. Mario Monti expressed satisfaction with the results.

Beppe Grillo, of Genoa, has responded to the fabulous results for his party by taunting the mainstream Italian political class, calling them losers, who have brought the nation to this economic catastrophe.

Tags: Italy