The centre-left Union coalition, led by Romano Prodi, has won Italy's general election by a margin of roughly 5%, the first exit polls say as voting ends on Monday.
A poll carried out by the Nexus polling agency for RAI state television and Premier Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset TV group gives the centre-left alliance 50-54% of the vote and the centre right 45-49%.
A poll by the Piepoli institute for ANSA and SkyTG24 gives the centre left 52% and the centre right 47%.
On a rainy day in most of Italy, the last ballots were cast at 3 pm, completing two days of voting for the country's new parliament and government. Initial figures said turnout was high. A second round of exit poll results was scheduled to be released at 4.30 pm, while definitive results - first for the Senate, then for the House - were expected during the evening.
Both Romano Prodi and Premier Silvio Berlusconi are in Rome this Monday afternoon as they and the nation waited for the results.
