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Berlusconi set for defeat in Italian elections

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There are reports of a low turnout in Silvio Berlusconi's key areas as voter numbers fall by 8% in the north west and 9.6% in the south and the islands. Berlusconi also lagged in recently leaked polls. A victory for the centre-left Democratic party is looking likely.

While voting for both the Senate and lower house ends at 2pm, counting for the Senate should finish first, at around 7-8pm as it has a smaller electorate. An outcome for the lower chamber can be expected from 11pm with final results anticipated tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, Berlusconi's campaign seems to have made little effort to get voters to forget previous scandals: