Berlusconi admits heavy poll defeats

ITALIAN premier Silvio Berlusconi has acknowledged that his centre-right party suffered defeats in his political stronghold of Milan and in the southern city of Naples — outcomes that observers say could undermine his government’s stability and his leadership.

Mr Berlusconi had campaigned hard ahead of the local elections and urged Italians to go to the polls to signal their support for his conservative coalition government in Rome.

“This time we didn’t win, but we continue. I am a fighter. Any time I have lost, I tripled the effort,” Mr Berlusconi told reporters.