BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Italian elections

BBC NEWS / IN PICTURES
Graphics Version BBC Sport Home

00:14 GMT, Tuesday, 15 April 2008 01:14 UK

In pictures: Italian elections

Supporters of Silvio Berlusconi celebrate outside his villa in the town of Arcore, near Milan, 14 April, 2008

1 of 6
Supporters of Silvio Berlusconi celebrated late into the night on Monday after his centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) party won a decisive victory in Italy's general elections.

Silvio Berlusconi casts his ballot in a Milan polling station, 13 April, 2008

Silvio Berlusconi casts his ballot in a Milan polling station, 13 April, 2008

2 of 6
The media mogul, 71, seen here voting on Sunday, says he feels great responsibility ahead of his third term as prime minister, but has warned of difficult months ahead.

Walter Veltroni delivers a speech in Rome, 14 April, 2008

Walter Veltroni delivers a speech in Rome, 14 April, 2008

3 of 6
His principal rival, the centre-left leader Walter Veltroni, conceded defeat on Monday night, after his Democratic Party (PD) won less than 40% of votes in both the lower and upper houses.

Italy's electoral commission workers empty a ballot box before counting at a polling station in Rome, 14 April, 2008

Italy's electoral commission workers empty a ballot box before counting at a polling station in Rome, 14 April, 2008

4 of 6
In Italy's system, prime ministers must have control of both houses to govern and Mr Berlusconi appears to have captured that as counting concluded on Monday night.

People look at a video screen in Rome's Interior Ministry showing Italian electoral projections by region, 14 April, 2008

People look at a video screen in Rome's Interior Ministry showing Italian electoral projections by region, 14 April, 2008

5 of 6
The vote was held after the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition. Turnout for the elections was around 80%, lower than in the last election, two years ago.

Alessandra Mussolini waits for results to be announced at Silvio Berlusconi's Rome campaign headquarters, 14 April, 2008

Alessandra Mussolini waits for results to be announced at Silvio Berlusconi's Rome campaign headquarters, 14 April, 2008

6 of 6
Some 158 parties contested the regional and national polls. Alessandra Mussolini (pictured), an ally of Mr Berlusconi, is the grand-daughter of ex-dictator Benito Mussolini.

E-mail this to a friend