Italians vote in election that could take far-right to power

Brothers of Italy’s Leader Giorgia Meloni (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Italians were voting on Sunday in an election that could move the country’s politics sharply to the right during a critical time for Europe, with war in Ukraine fuelling skyrocketing energy bills and testing the West’s resolve to stand united against Russian aggression.

The counting of paper ballots was expected to begin shortly after polls close at 11pm, with projections based on partial results coming early Monday.