Contested ballot count expected to confirm Prodi's victory

Italian magistrates were today reviewing the last of a few thousand contested ballots in parliamentary elections held earlier this month, with the results widely expected to confirm the slim victory of centre-left leader Romano Prodi over Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

There was no clear indication when the results from the Court of Cassation – a top Italian court that must certify the results – would be announced. But Italian news reports and court officials suggested it might be later today.

“We confidently wait,” said Prodi’s spokesman, Silvio Sircana.

Under review were 5,200 ballots that were not immediately included in the overall count as the voting intentions were not clear. The number of the ballots - which was reduced last week from more than 80,000 – is seen as too small to overturn the result.

Prodi won a razor-thin majority in the April 9-10 vote, winning control of both houses of parliament.

The former premier and EU chief has claimed victory, urging Berlusconi to concede defeat. But the conservative leader has refused to concede for as long as a count of disputed ballots was still under way.