- Hung parliament is expected to be the most likely outcome
- The turnout at midday was recorded at just over 19 pct
- Berlusconi’s centre-right bloc is likely to win the most seats
- Anti-establishment 5-Star expected to build momentum and will likely be largest single party
Pictures from Italy today showed as queues snaked around polling stations and out the doors as thousands flocked to cast their vote in the election.
Even Berlusconi and Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio both had to wait in queues to cast their votes as new election procedures slowed the process at several polling stations.
“There will be queues as well this evening. I am worried that there might be some situations in which some people will not be able to vote,” Berlusconi said.
And at Berlusconi’s voting station in Milan, a Femen activist bared her chest in front of the former premier and shouted, “time’s up” before being hauled away.
“She passed so quickly I didn’t get a chance to see her,” quipped Berlusconi, who has a history of being caught up in sex scandals.
Confusion over the new system led to 200,000 ballot papers having to be reprinted overnight in Palermo, where some polling stations delayed opening amid protests from voters.
There were also reports of misprinted ballots at one polling booth in Rome.
While European Central Bank President Mario Draghi was filmed telling his wife to “shut up” after she told journalists he would not join any government as “he is not a politician”.
After he cast his vote earlier this morning, a journalist asked the ECB chief: “Would you accept to become the next prime minister if Berlusconi asked you? Would you create a government with Matteo Salvini?”
Mr Draghi, who shook his head to make clear he wasn’t willing to answer any questions, walked to the car waiting for him, while his wife said: “He doesn’t do the government, he is not a politician”.
But bizarrely the ECB chief was then heard scolding her while they were both entering the car, saying “c’mon, shut up”.