March 16, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL) is the frontrunner in the country’s electoral race, according to a poll by Digis. 41.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the political organization headed by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in next month’s ballot.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL) is the frontrunner in the country’s electoral race, according to a poll by Digis. 41.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the political organization headed by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in next month’s ballot.

The centre-left Democratic Party (PD) of former Rome mayor Walter Veltroni is second with 33.4 per cent, followed by the Left Rainbow (SA) with 7.1 per cent, the Union of the Centre with seven per cent, the Northern League (LN) with 4.6 per cent, and Italy of Values (Lista di Pietro) with 3.3 per cent. Support is lower for The Right (La Destra), the Socialist Party (PS), the Communist Workers Party (PCL), the Movement for Autonomy (MPA), and the List for Life (Prolife).

Italian voters renewed the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in April 2006. The Union (Unione) of centre-left parties, led by Romano Prodi, secured 348 seats in the lower house and 158 seats in the upper house. The victory put an end to the government of the centre-right House of Freedom (Casa), headed by Berlusconi.

In May 2006, Prodi was formally appointed as prime minister. The Union leader had previously served as head of government from May 1996 to October 1998. In January 2008, Prodi lost a confidence vote in Parliament and was forced to step down. After Senate president Franco Marini failed in his bid to form a caretaker administration, a legislative election was scheduled for next month.

In October 2007, Veltroni assembled the Democratic Party (PD) with several centre-left political organizations. In November, Berlusconi announced the creation of the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL).

On Mar. 13, during a television show, Berlusconi was asked by a young woman how couples without a permanent job can obtain a mortgage or start a family. Berlusconi replied: "This is the advice that as a father I take the liberty of giving: you should perhaps look (to marry) Berlusconi’s son, or somebody else who doesn’t have such problems. (...) With that smile of yours, you could even get away with it."

The legislative election is scheduled for Apr. 13 and Apr. 14.

Polling Data

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

Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL)	41.1%
Democratic Party (PD)	33.4%
Left Rainbow (SA)	7.1%
Union of the Centre	7.0%
Northern League (LN)	4.6%
Italy of Values (Lista di Pietro)	3.3%
The Right (La Destra)	1.5%
Socialist Party (PS)	1.4%
Communist Workers Party (PCL)	0.3%
Movement for Autonomy (MPA)	0.2%
List for Life (Prolife)	0.1%

Source: Digis
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Italian adults, conducted on Mar. 8 and Mar. 9, 2008. No margin of error was provided.