According to last night's results by Italy's election authorities 66.5% of Italians voted yesterday - the first day of elections following one of the most bitter electoral campaigns of the past decade.
President Ciampi was one of the first politicians to vote on Sunday, arriving at the polls about an hour after they had opened in the Trieste neighbourhood of Rome. Romano Prodi voted around 10am in Bologna, accompanied with his wife. "Elections in Italy are a great momemnt of democarcy", he said on his way out.
Silvio Berlusconi arrived at the 'Dante Alighieri' school at 13:15 accompanied by his mother. He was reprimanded for indicating to his mother the sign of Forza Italia and asking her to place her mark there - no indications of votes are allowed with a poll station. "I am very calm and confident", he said, "I wish that many people come out to vote and that they vote well".
The big question of the day is which side will be aided if the number of voters increases. Last time round 81,4% of Italians has voted and voting took place just on Sunday. The polls close at 3pm and marathon election specials will be held on all TV stations from 3pm onwards.
