Berlusconi Hopes to Regain Power after Italy election

Italians began voting Sunday in a snap general elections that could possibly bring back former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi into power. Balloting would continue until Monday to determine who would lead the country’s 63rd government.

The 71-year-old Berlusconi is running against 52-year-old former Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni. Berlusconi and Veltroni are the main contenders against 32 other candidates hoping to replace Romano Prodi, who stepped down as Prime Minister in January.

Opinion polls give Berlusconi a good chance of winning, as he has been the prime minister twice, first from May 1994 to January 1995 and again on April 2005 to May 2006.

Newspaper editor Giuliano Ferrara told CNN in February, “Berlusconi is perceived as a flag of freedom, and that is enough to make him a symbol, a very efficient symbol of something different from traditional politics.”

Since June 2001 until late last month, Veltroni was mayor of Rome until he stepped down to run for Prime Minister. Both Berlusconi and Veltroni share similar policies – supporting big tax cuts and generous spending programs, which don’t promise a good future for Italy’s stagnant economy.

Election analyst James Walton said, “Neither of the two big parties is ready to really bite the bullet and make very painful decisions.”

Elections are also being held for all seats in Parliament, with 36 parties in the race.