Italians fed up with austerity voted on Sunday in the country’s most important elections in a generation, as Europe watched for signs of fresh instability in the eurozone’s third economy.

Millions turned out to vote for the first time since billionaire tycoon Silvio Berlusconi was ousted in 2011 in a wave of financial market panic to be replaced by former Eurocrat Mario Monti.

“This is a chance to change Italy,” said Ida, 48, a computer company employee, casting her ballot at a polling station in a school in Rome where entire families came out to vote, forming long queues.

There was a commotion as Berlusconi went to vote in Milan when three topless feminists from the Ukrainian women’s power group Femen braved light snow to hurl themselves toward him with “Basta Silvio” (“Enough With Silvio”) scrawled on their backs.

For all the attention on Berlusconi though, center-left Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani is the most likely winner, although analysts say he may fall short of a majority and need to assemble a coalition that could prove unsteady.

“We want to turn the page” after Berlusconi, the cigar-chomping Bersani said in an interview with the left-wing daily L’Unita published on Sunday.

“Our success will strengthen the battle in Europe for growth and equity,” said the former communist, adding that markets “need someone who can put the country back on a safe course.”

Bersani has promised to stick to Monti’s budget discipline but says he will do more for growth and jobs as Italy endures its longest recession in 20 years and unemployment hits record highs.

“I am voting for the Democratic Party. I don’t want us to end up like Greece,” said Alessandro, a 63-year-old manager, as he cast his ballot in Milan.

The scandal-tainted Berlusconi, a three-time prime minister who is also a defendant in two trials for tax fraud and having sex with an underage prostitute, is expected to come a close second.

“There’s a lot of confusion in these elections. I’m voting Berlusconi. I know he has his defects, but he’s the best,” said Maria Teresa Gottardi, 65. 

(AFP)