Italy election: Live updates as Italians choose a new government
Join us for live updates as Italy votes in a snap general election that is forecast to see a right-wing coalition -- headed by Giorgia Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy -- triumph over a Democratic Party-led left-wing coalition and the Five Star Movement.
The two coalition colleagues, who describe each other as friends, have occasionally been perceived as rivals, especially at the peak of Matteo Salvini and the League's popularity in 2019.
Just after voting today, former PM and right-wing candidate Silvio Berlusconi was recorded as saying Salvini had "never worked".
To which the League leader responded: "Whatever he may say, I will always have love for Silvio Berlusconi, regardless."
At 8:45am, Italian President Sergio Mattarella - who was supposed to resign in January, but stayed on after no clear winner emerged - went to vote in Palermo, Sicily.
He received applause from members of the public waiting in the queue.
Northern and central regions are currently recording a higher turnout. This includes Veneto, Lombardy, Liguria, Tuscany and Lazio. The southern Italian region of Campania, whose capital is Naples, has the lowest.
Turnout for the lower house vote recorded at midday was at 19.21% - barely below the 19.48% recorded in the last general election in 2018, which saw 72.9% casting their ballots.
Previous estimates had suggested up to 41% of eligible voters would abstain in this snap election.
There are several major parties running, many of which are in coalitions.
The "centre-right" coalition consists of three major parties:
- Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia), headed by Giorgia Meloni
- Northern League (Lega Nord), Matteo Salvini
- Go Italy (Forza Italia), Silvio Berlusconi
The "centre-left" has one major and several
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