Counting is continuing in the Italian general election, with Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition now predicted to record a narrow win.
Projections based on initial results have suggested that Mr Berlusconi may retain a majority in both houses of parliament.
The Nexus Research Institute gives Mr Berlusconi's coalition a slight 49.9% to 49.6% edge over challenger Romano Prodi in the 630-seat lower house.
Under Italy's controversial new electoral system, rushed into law late last year, the winning bloc will automatically be granted 340 of the 630 seats in the lower house of parliament no matter how small its eventual margin of victory.
However, the counting system is different for the 315-seat Senate and with 95% of the vote counted, Mr Berlusconi is projected to take 158 seats to the centre-left's 151.
However, initial exit polls had indicated that Mr Prodi's centre-left alliance had won a majority in both houses of parliament.
A second day of polling ended at 2pm Irish time.
The interior ministry said turnout at the election was a high 83.6% against 81.4% in the previous poll in 2001.
