Note: This is a live blog but with newest information at the bottom.
The Independent reports Exit polls point to no party gaining absolute majority.
Exit Estimates
#Italian election exit poll shows center-right bloc winning the most seats but failing to get a majority! (Chart by BBG) pic.twitter.com/KsyiTkEYAZ
— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) March 4, 2018
Note the slightly higher estimates for the Northern League than Forza Italia.
If it’s a hung election, I believe the existing coalitions will die and new ones will form.
Some Returns Coming In
Returns are now coming in, and some people are shocked.
+++ First projection from REAL DATA – HUGE UPSET (via @La7tv)
5 Star Movement 33.1%
League 17.3%
Forza Italia 14.1%
PD 18.7% pic.twitter.com/krkXtcWtfC— Ferdinando Giugliano (@FerdiGiugliano) March 4, 2018
From Bloomberg
Top Lega (Northern League) official Giancarlo Giorgetti speaking from party HQ:
“These are historic results for the Lega. We’re picking up votes from North to South. We had 4 percent in 2013, now projections say 16 to 17 percent, perhaps more. We’ll discuss things with our allies but this is a historic moment for the Lega.”
Prior totals were for the Senate only where the Voting age is 25. Lower parliament voting age is 18. House projections now look similar according to La7, via Bloomberg
- Five Star 32.1%
- Democratic Party 19%
- Northern League 17.5%
- Forza Italia 14.1%
Shocking Defeat
Matteo Renzi will comment on the outcome once final data are in. He did, however, admit defeat: “This is a very clear and definite defeat for us. It is a result that is very clearly negative.”
Bloomberg FX editor Marco Bertacche made this comment. emphasis mine.
“We’ll monitor reaction from the losers (likely Democratic Party secretary and former PM Renzi) and hints at post-vote coalition talks from the winners (Salvini, Five Star’s Di Maio)“
Most of mainstream media is still in denial, referring to the Silvio Berlusconi-led center right.
Berlusconi looks doomed to come in fourth place.
Senate Projections
From Marco Bertacche
A new seats’ projection from RAI/Opinio Italia for the 315-member Senate is out — no coalition has a majority; eventual League-Five Star would have a majority.
Live Results
Here is a good Live Results feed.
Translation as of 8:26 PM central: “Triumph M5S, League exploit: populist forces over 50%. Renzi’s Democratic Party collapses. Center-right the most voted”
Latest lead-in chart is from TGSky 24 Projection. Anecdotes in White are mine.
No Surprise Here
Four days ago I suggested Italy Election March 4: Consider a Surprise M5S + NL Alliance.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
5Star + Forza Italia a projected majority too. Whether that is more or less likely that Lega Nord joining with 5Star or all three banding together I do not know but the key point about coalition formation is that if the numbers work, it is possible and only ideology, personalities and opportunism can get in the way. If the numbers do not deliver a majority, then typically a coalition will fail.
The people who vote are getting antsy- time to take their vote away.
Merkel must be breathing a sigh of relief she is still Chancellor. And oh yeah, a coalition formed.
“I spent my lifetime not being careless. Women and childern can be careless… but not men”
link to youtube.com
Totals so far are for the Senate only – Voting age is 25. As I am typing House looks the same: Five Star 32.1%
Democratic Party 19%
Northern League 17.5%
Forza Italia 14.1%
If FI comes in 4th, it is all over for Berlusconi. Finished.
I would expect Berlusconi to make a pact with the devil if it saw him return to power. It is of course true that he might be outmanoeuvered by Lega Nord and left out in the cold – but he is the most formidable of the operators on the stage at present.
Berlusconi only has a choice if they reach a majority, perhaps requiring PD to play along
Not Berlusconi’s choice! If M5S + LN agree to a coalition there is nothing Berlusconi can do about it but whine. The reason I suggested it is precisely because LN feared backstabbing
One possibility now perhaps is Berlusconi stabs in the front Lega Nord (that against Berlusconi’s putative expectations seems to be doing slightly better than its coalition partner which might bestow upon it an unwelcome ascendancy) and form a majority government with Cinque Stelle (around which he should be able to run rings, the sly old viper).
Lots of exit polls saying same thing
I have a feeling the exit polls are going be slightly off. I don’t think they will be a hung parliament.
Anyway you look at it, People have had it with Renzi’s coalition.