ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has probably suffered a stinging defeat at key regional elections on Sunday and Monday, according to exit polls reported by national TV station RAI.
Berlusconi's center-right coalition appeared to have lost all but two regional governments of the 13 at stake, the exit polls said, holding on to just Lombardy and Veneto -- both in its stronghold in northern Italy. ..... Berlusconi had prepared his supporters for a poor result, saying he expected a mid-term backlash due to Italy's economic woes, but if the exit polls are confirmed when official results come out later on Monday, it will be far worse than expected.
Berlusconi's coalition lost three regions seen as crucial by parties and pundits: Piedmont in the north, Lazio in the center and Puglia in the south, the exit polls said. But the results were very close and may change when ballots are counted.
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