Pier Luighi Bersani, Secretary of the Democratic Party. Photo: Reuters

47 million Italians went to the polls on Sunday, with Pier Luighi Bersani leading Silvio Berlusconi in a Prime Minister’s race that could prove crucial to the future of the euro zone. Italy has adopted austerity measures to try to boost its GDP, and lower its unemployment rate and public debt. Polls show Pier Luighi Bersani, Secretary of the Democratic Party, the main center-left political party in Italy, leading Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right political party. Bersani’s party is expected to win a majority in the 630-seat House of Representatives, but not in the 315-seat Senate.