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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