NYT: Italian National Election Remains Too Close to Call

[brooklynite]

ROME, Tuesday, April 11 — Italy's high-decibel elections cleaved the nation, ending in so tight a race that it was impossible to tell half a day after the polls closed whether Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi or his center-left challenger, Romano Prodi, had won.

By 3 a.m. Tuesday there were still no clear results, though early voter surveys showed a victory for Mr. Prodi, 66, a former professor who had beaten Mr. Berlusconi 10 years ago in another race for prime minister.

Even though votes from Italians living abroad remained uncounted, and results showed Mr. Berlusconi ahead in the upper house of Parliament, Mr. Prodi appeared just before 3 a.m. to his supporters in central Rome to claim victory.

"We've won," he said. "Now we have to work to change Italy. We have to work for the unity of this country."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/11/world/europe/11italy.html?ei=5094&en=4017aec1c23a0552&hp=&ex=1144728000&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1144728379-5F9uGNSNU3utiWcvo72EFw

[IsItJustMe]

1. If both houses are not taken by one party, I think they have to have

another election.