Two important facts will mark Italy’s April 9 upcoming legislative elections. For the first time Italians living abroad-and their descendants, i.e., those bearing an Italian passport-will be eligible to vote for deputies and senators. In the case of Latin America, there are large communities entitled to vote, particularly in Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The continent is expected to elect up to three deputies and two senators.

Two important facts will mark Italy’s April 9 upcoming legislative elections. For the first time Italians living abroad-and their descendants, i.e., those bearing an Italian passport-will be eligible to vote for deputies and senators. In the case of Latin America, there are large communities entitled to vote, particularly in Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The continent is expected to elect up to three deputies and two senators.

The second fact is that L’UNIONE, a center-left coalition led by Romano Prodi, is the front runner in the polls against communications mogul and acting Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The economy’s poor performance over the past years, changes in the labor law depriving workers of a number of working rights, higher age requirements for retirement, and the involvement of Italy in the war in Iraq have all undermined the Berlusconi administration. If the results confirm the opinion polls, this will be an important setback for neo-liberalism and a step forward in the search of peace in Iraq. (Read more in Humberto Eco’s article).