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Political sea change in Italy as anti-EU, anti-immigration parties win big

Author
Michael Sergel,
Publish Date
Tue, 6 Mar 2018, 7:36AM
Luigi De Mario, leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, says the party was ready to take on a responsible leadership role. (Photo \ Getty Images)

Political sea change in Italy as anti-EU, anti-immigration parties win big

Author
Michael Sergel,
Publish Date
Tue, 6 Mar 2018, 7:36AM

Everyone expected a political shift, but no one was expecting a political sea change.

The anti-EU Five Star Movement and Silvio Berlusconi's anti-immigration alliance have come out the clear leaders in Italy's election.

Voters have delivered a hung parliament, as most people were expecting.

But Reuters correspondent Crispian Balmer told Kate Hawkesby they've also delivered a bigger surge for anti-establishment parties than anyone expected.

"The mainstream, the old traditional parties, really took a beating and the opinion polls hadn't foreseen a rout of this proportion."

The result reflects frustration about rising immigration and a shrinking economy as more than one in 10 Italians can't find a job.

"The poverty figures are eye-watering. Italy has seen the highest rise in poverty of any EU state, [it's] particularly acute down in the south."

LISTEN ABOVE AS CRISPIAN BALMER SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY

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