Berlusconi faces new humiliation

Da "The Herald Sun" (Australia) del 13.6.11

PRIME Minister Silvio Berlusconi faced the prospect of fresh humiliation following local election defeats, as Italians flocked to the polls to vote in opposition-backed referendums.

Although the government had urged its supporters to stay away, turnout was already at 41 per cent late yesterday and voting continued today, suggesting the 50 per cent needed for the polls to be valid was within reach.

Opposition supporters who oppose a return to nuclear power want to scrap a law that has helped Berlusconi stay away from court were optimistic after the strong turnout yesterday - the last binding referendum dates to 1995.