Italy

Berlusconi's party make gains in local elections

Article published on the 2009-06-23 Latest update 2009-06-23 12:45 TU

Silvio Berlusconi gestures to supporters at the first congress of the People of Freedom party in March 2009
(Photo : AFP)

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi looks set to receive a boost after almost completed results published on Tuesday show that his People of Freedom party is set to make significant gains in local elections.

Berlusconi has had to put up with embarrassing allegations and rumours about his private life in recent weeks but it doesn’t seem to have had any effect on his party’s popularity.

His centre-right People of Freedom party will take eight more provinces in the second round of elections.

The party are also set to recapture power in Berlusconi’s native Milan for the first time in decades. "The left has had a new, resounding defeat," said late on Monday. "Before these elections, the PDL governed five million people in its provinces. Today it governs more than 21 million."

The centre-left will hold on to power in its traditional strongholds such as Turin, Bologna, Florence and Bari.