On the defensive
May 17, 2011
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has suffered a serious political setback in his hometown of Milan where his center-right party has failed to secure enough votes to avoid a runoff in the mayoral election.
Mayor Letizia Moratti, an ally of Berlusconi, won 41.6 percent of the vote in Monday's election, compared to the 48 percent secured by his main challenger, Giuliano Pisapia.
A runoff election will be held in two weeks, giving the Italian center-left party the opportunity to take political control of Berlusconi's hometown for the first time in nearly 20 years.
"He is saddened - surprised and saddened," a Berlusconi aide told the Italian news agency ANSA.
Berlusconi's main coalition partner, the Northern League, also fared worse than expected in its electoral heartland.
Elsewhere, the center-left secured its traditional strongholds of Turin and Bologna. Berlusconi's People of Freedom party (PDL) was leading in Naples but will also face a runoff in two weeks.
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Although Berlusconi's term does not end until 2013, a rash of controversy has undermined his support among the Italian people.
Berlusconi currently faces multiple trials for corruption, tax fraud and allegedly having sex with an underage prostitute. Several of the trials are taking place in Milan.
Berlusconi's popularity has sunk to 31 percent in a recent survey and he barely passed a confidence vote in parliament last December.
"There's turnaround all over, with the wind of the North blowing against the People of Freedom-Northern league [alliance]," said Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the main center-left Democratic Party.
Author: Spencer Kimball (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Martin Kuebler