Berlusconi: "Did you think you’d got rid of me?" [View All]

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2132934,00.html

Italians fear Florida repeat as Berlusconi digs in

Italians fear Florida repeat as Berlusconi digs in
By Philippe Naughton and agencies



Italy is facing the prospect of a protracted Florida-style electoral wrangle caused by Silvio Berlusconi's refusal to accept the results of this week's parliamentary elections.

With official results giving his centre-left opponents a wafer-thin majority, Signor Berlusconi met President Ciampi for more than an hour last night to inform him of "innumerable irregularities" in the two-day election, which ended on Monday. snip

Signor Berlusconi is the only prime minister to have served a full five-year term since democracy was restored to Italy after the death of Benito Mussolini and the country's defeat in the Second World War.

But after his meeting with Signor Ciampi, he gave no sign that he is willing to give up the office quite yet. "The result must, and will, change because there has been endless vote rigging in different places, all over Italy," he told reporters.

"Did you think you’d got rid of me," he added, with a smile.