ROME, April 13: Turnout in Italy’s general election stood at 48.9 per cent halfway through the two-day polls, down more than three per cent from the same juncture two years ago, the interior ministry said.

Turnout in the 2006 elections was 52.2 per cent after 11 hours of polling, the ministry noted on its website, adding that the figures concerned only polling for the lower house Chamber of Deputies.

The lower turnout may be a reflection of widespread disillusionment over Italy’s electoral system which many blame for the collapse of Romano Prodi’s centre-left government in January after only 20 months at the helm.

Polls were to close at 10pm (2000 GMT) on Sunday and reopen Monday at 7am for another eight hours, for a total of 22 hours of balloting.

On the first day of polling, voters electing Italy’s 63rd government in as many years vented their frustration over their choices under an electoral system that virtually guarantees more political gridlock.—AFP