(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The coalition of right-leaning parties supporting Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi remains highly popular, according to a poll by Digis. 50.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing centre-right coalition—including the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL), the Northern League (LN), and Movement for Autonomy (MPA)—in the next legislative election.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The coalition of right-leaning parties supporting Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi remains highly popular, according to a poll by Digis. 50.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing centre-right coalition—including the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL), the Northern League (LN), and Movement for Autonomy (MPA)—in the next legislative election.
The opposition centre-left alliance comprising the Democratic Party (PD) and Italy of Values (Lista di Pietro) is second with 36.8 per cent. Support is much lower for the Union of the Centre, the Left Refoundation (RpS), Left and Freedom (SeL), and the Radicals (R).
Italian voters renewed the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in April 2008. 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 2008. He had previously served as prime minister from May 1994 to January 1995, and from June 2001 to May 2006.
The prime minister’s private life has been under the spotlight since May, when his wife of 19 years, Veronica Lario, filed for divorce and accused him of "frequenting minors." Several organizations have staged street protests lately rejecting what they see as Berlusconi’s demeaning behaviour towards women.
In late October, a rift within the governing coalition became apparent when Italian economy minister Giulio Tremonti threatened to resign because he was not notified of an announcement to cut a regional tax.
On Oct. 26, Umberto Bossi, leader of the LN, demanded that Berlusconi name Tremonti his deputy prime minister—a position that does not actually exist—in order to keep economic decisions in check, and adding, "Tremonti is a guarantee because he puts the brakes on big spenders in the government."
Polling Data
If a new election to the Chamber of Deputies took place, which party would you vote for?
|
|
Nov. 7
|
Oct. 24
|
Jul. 18
|
|
Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL) /
|
50.1%
|
50.6%
|
52.5%
|
|
Democratic Party (PD) /
|
36.8%
|
37.3%
|
33.0%
|
|
Union of the Centre
|
7.2%
|
5.9%
|
6.0%
|
|
Left Refoundation (RpS)
|
3.0%
|
3.4%
|
2.5%
|
|
Left and Freedom (SeL)
|
1.3%
|
1.3%
|
3.0%
|
|
Radicals (R)
|
0.5%
|
0.7%
|
1.0%
|
|
Other parties
|
1.1%
|
0.8%
|
2.0%
|
Source: Digis
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Italian adults, conducted on Nov. 6 to Nov. 7, 2009. No margin of error was provided.
