Projections from an early vote count in Italy's election on Monday showed Silvio Berlusconi’s centre right slightly ahead in the Senate, a result that could cause deep government instability if confirmed.
The projections on RAI, Sky, Mediaset and LA 7 television stations were the reverse of earlier predictions from telephone polls that showed the centre left taking a strong lead in both houses of parliament.
The change in predictions had an immediate impact on markets which rose earlier on hopes of a stable and strong centre-left led government. Berlusconi's aim is to paralyse a centre-left-led government.
Published 25 February 2013, 20:00 IST