Italians go to polls for local, Euro votes

ROME, June 6 (UPI) -- Italians went to the polls Saturday in two days of weekend voting for local offices and Italy's 78 seats in the European Parliament, officials say.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was looking for good showings for candidates of his center-right People of Freedom party -- which held a clear lead in the latest polls -- as a way to confirm his popularity with voters in the face of a gossipy election run-up during which he has accused the media of smearing him, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Analysts said Berlusconi's biggest rivalry appeared to be coming from the right rather than the left as the anti-immigration Northern League was running neck-and-neck with the People of Freedom party in the industrial Italian northeast. No matter the outcome of this weekend's elections, however, both parties contend they will remain allies in Rome, the news agency said.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party is having its anti-Berlusconi thunder stolen by the Italy of Values party of former prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro, who is reportedly savaging the premier -- even personally -- on moral as well as political grounds, criticizing him for an alleged relationship with a teenage aspiring model.