(12/02/08) -

Lead for Berlusconi Parties Narrows in Italy

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The right-wing alliance supporting Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi holds a smaller lead over its main rival, according to a poll by Ipsos Public Affairs. 45.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL), the Northern League (LN), or the Movement for Autonomy (MPA) in the next election to the Chamber of Deputies, down two points since September.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The right-wing alliance supporting Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi holds a smaller lead over its main rival, according to a poll by Ipsos Public Affairs. 45.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL), the Northern League (LN), or the Movement for Autonomy (MPA) in the next election to the Chamber of Deputies, down two points since September.

The left-leaning alliance encompassing the Democratic Party (PD) and Italy of Values (Lista di Pietro) is second with 39.7 per cent. Support is lower for the Union of the Centre and the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC).

Italian voters renewed the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in April. Final results gave Berlusconi’s right-wing coalition 344 seats in the lower house, and 174 seats in the upper house. The victory put an end to the government of the centre-left Union (Unione), headed by Romano Prodi.

Berlusconi was sworn in as the country’s new head of government in May. He had previously served as prime minister from May 1994 to January 1995, and from June 2001 to May 2006.

On Nov. 25, Berlusconi urged Italians to shop this holiday season to salvage the domestic economy that has been hit by a global financial crisis, saying, "There is nothing better to resolve deep crises than an atmosphere of optimism. (…) Citizens must not give up their habits and purchases, it’s all up to them. (…) If citizens are swept up by pessimism, that creates a negative spiral."

Polling Data

If the election were held today, which party would you vote for?

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 Italian adults, conducted on Nov. 3, 2008. No margin of error was provided.