In Italy, exit polls show center-left leading vote

Bersani’s coalition leads with 35.5 percent of the vote; former premier Berlusconi lags behind with 29 percent

25 February 2013, 5:59 pm Edit

Pier Luigi Bersani, right, leader of the Democratic Party, casts his ballot with his wife Daniela, Sunday. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)

ROME (AP) — After two days of voting in the Italian parliamentary elections, exit polls published Monday afternoon showed Pier Luigi Bersani’s center-left coalition leading a national vote that is testing Italians’ resolve to stay the course of painful economic reform.

Sky Italia reported Bersani’s coalition has taken 35.5 percent of the vote for the lower house of parliament, ahead of the center-right coalition under former premier Silvio Berlusconi with 29 percent.

The poll by Tecne’ has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percent.

A political movement founded by comic-turned-political agitator Beppe Grillo is projected to take 19 percent of the vote, while outgoing Premier Mario Monti’s centrist coalition has 9.5 percent.

Polls closed at 1400 GMT, ending two days of voting. The first projections based on partial vote counts are expected in coming hours.