Berlusconi: Italy Needs Time to Reflect; New Polls not Useful

By Liam Moloney

ROME--Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi Tuesday said it will take some time for the parties to reflect on the best way forward for the country, after the weekend's general elections resulted in a gridlock, adding that he doesn't see a rapid return to the ballot box as useful.

"We must all reflect on what we can do that is useful for Italy," said Mr. Berlusconi in an interview on one of his television channels. "This will take some time."

With the counting of votes ending in the early hours of Tuesday, the left-wing coalition led by the Democratic Party's Pier Luigi Bersani gained a razor-thin victory in the lower house of parliament over the center-right coalition headed by Mr. Berlusconi. By leading the vote count in the lower house, the Democratic Party automatically gets the majority of seats and, therefore, is likely to receive the mandate to form a government.

However, in the Senate, although the center-left is the biggest single party after the vote, it is well short of a majority. Italy's parliament is made up of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, both with equal powers.

"I don't think this Italy of ours can't be ungoverned," said Mr. Berlusconi in the TV interview. He added he doesn't think it would be "useful" to return to the polls.

Write to Liam Moloney at liam.moloney@dowjones.com

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