{"id":406086,"date":"2018-03-04T07:34:27","date_gmt":"2018-03-04T07:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=406086"},"modified":"2018-03-04T08:19:17","modified_gmt":"2018-03-04T08:19:17","slug":"italy-election-polls-open-unpredictable-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=406086","title":{"rendered":"Italy election: Polls open in unpredictable contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Italians are voting after a divisive campaign dominated by concerns over immigration and the economy.<\/p>\n

Correspondents say it is hard to say who will come out on top in an unpredictable contest.<\/p>\n

The anti-establishment Five Star Movement, ruling Democratic Party and ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi’s right-wing coalition have all predicted victory.<\/p>\n

But Mr Berlusconi, 81, cannot himself hold public office until next year due to a tax fraud conviction.<\/p>\n

The four-time prime minister – who has allied himself with the anti-immigrant League party – has backed European Parliament President<\/p>\n

Opinion polls were banned in the last two weeks of the campaign but surveys before that suggested Mr Berlusconi’s alliance was in front but would not win a majority.<\/p>\n

Five Star is widely expected by pollsters to emerge as the single biggest party.<\/p>\n

What are the key issues?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Immigration<\/strong><\/p>\n

More than 600,000 migrants have made the treacherous journey from Libya across the Mediterranean to reach Italy since 2013.<\/p>\n

The huge number of arrivals has upset many Italians – with politicians, including from the mainstream, toughening their rhetoric as a result.<\/p>\n

\"graphic<\/p>\n

Mr Berlusconi has called the presence of illegal migrants a “social time-bomb” and pledges mass deportations.<\/p>\n

The campaign has seen violent clashes between far-right supporters and anti-fascist protesters<\/p>\n

The economy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Italy’s economy has started to expand once again but nearly 10 years on from the Global Financial Crisis, Italy’s gross domestic product – or total economic output – remains 5.7% lower than pre-crisis levels.<\/p>\n

In 2016, some 18 million people were at risk of poverty, and unemployment is at 11%.<\/p>\n

\"poverty\"<\/p>\n

Economic policy has been a key battleground but observers say they have heard more from parties about pensioners than youths, which could be due to young voters’ high vote abstention rates.<\/p>\n

Why is this election important?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Italy is the EU’s fourth-largest economy and the potential gains by populist and far-right parties is a major concern in some European capitals and in Brussels.<\/p>\n

Contenders have lined up to blame EU budget rules for hampering economic recovery. Five Star and the League had promised to hold a referendum to leave the euro but dropped that rhetoric.<\/p>\n

Who’s running?<\/strong><\/p>\n