Former premier Silvio Berlusconi's aide hailed the "extraordinary result" that saw the People of Freedom (PDL) party running neck-and-neck with the centre-left, confounding pollsters who
had predicted it would lose Italy's general elections.
"It is a very positive, I'd even say extraordinary result," PDL secretary Angelino Alfano told reporters Monday.
"In these elections, those who thought that the centre-right was sure to lose ... and that Silvio Berlusconi was finished have bee proven wrong," he added.
Alfano predicted that the PDL and its allies would scoop up the biggest number of seats in the upper house of parliament, but refused to say what it would propose to overcome the deadlock if the
centre-left wins in the lower house.