As Italy votes, Europe fears populist, euroskeptic gains

Italians braved long lines and confusing ballots to vote Sunday in one of the most uncertain elections in years – one that could determine if the country succumbs to the populist, euroskeptic and far-right sentiment that has swept through Europe.

Some Italian polling stations faced ballot delivery problems and all had new time-consuming anti-fraud measures in place that created bottlenecks at many stations. As the day wore on, authorities in Milan and Rome urged voters to give themselves plenty of time to cast their ballots and not wait until the last minute.

“You feel as if you have gone there prepared, but it’s not that clear,” Sister Vincenza complained as she cast her ballot on Rome’s Aventine hill before heading to Mass.

Some polling stations remained closed in Palermo two hours into election day because the wrong ballots were delivered and 200,000 new ones had to be reprinted overnight. Similar ballot glitches were reported elsewhere, forcing the suspension of the vote in two towns in Alessandria.

More than 46 million people were eligible to vote, including Italians abroad who already mailed in their ballots. Exit polls were expected after polls closed at 11 p.m. (2200 GMT; 5 p.m.), projections sometime thereafter and consolidated results Monday.

Italy’s political scene is dominated by three main blocs – the centre-right coalition anchored by ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, the ruling centreleft coalition anchored by the Democratic Party and the antiestablishment 5-Star Movement.