Rome - Italy's centre-right opposition, led by Mr Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, had the best of things in the first round of local elections last weekend, writes Paddy Agnew. The centre-right Freedom Pole won four mayoral contests as opposed to three victories for the centre-left Olive Tree, the government coalition, while the opposition also won six provincial council elections as opposed to three wins for the government.
A complete picture of the voting trends will emerge only when the second round of elections are held in two weeks' time.
