Electors prick Berlusconi bubble

Partial results and projections are now giving Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi between 35% and 35.5% of the vote in the elections for the European Parliament.

It is a win, but far smaller than expected, and may indicate he has passed the high-water mark of his term in office after weeks of scandal over his love life. Berlusconi had been tallking about taking 45% of the vote.

The centre-left fared poorly, and with 40% of votes counted trails at 28.2%. Smaller parties including Berlusconi’s coalition ally the anti- immigrant Northern League appear to be the real winners, increasing their share of the vote.

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tags: EU Parliament, European elections, Italy