Italians voted in partial local elections with all eyes on the northern business hub of Milan, a centre-right stronghold of embattled Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The vote Sunday and Monday is a last major test of Berlusconi's popularity before his term runs out in 2013, and comes as the flamboyant Italian leader is embroiled in legal and sex scandals.
The centre-right incumbent in Milan, Letizia Moratti, is expected to retain her post, but polls show she might not win outright in the first round and could be forced into a second round at the end of the month.
Berlusconi has campaigned vigorously on her behalf, even heading the electoral list for the polls in Milan, his home town.
The billionaire Berlusconi, head of a sprawling media empire, is currently a defendant in three trials in the city, including one in which he is accused of having sex with an underage prostitute and using his position to cover it up.
Berlusconi, 74, has also been hit by the defection of a key ally, parliament speaker Gianfranco Fini and around 40 lawmakers.
His popularity reached a record low of 31 percent in the latest poll last month -- down from more than 60 percent after his election to a third stint as prime minister in 2008.
But he has remained in power thanks to the support of the anti-immigrant Northern League and has gone on the offensive, accusing prosecutors of waging a hate campaign against him and painting his leftist critics as communist extremists.
The elections involve 1,310 communal administrations -- around 16 percent of the total -- including Bologna, Naples and Turin in addition to Milan.
Centre-left incumbents are expected to hold on to the traditionally "red" cities of Bologna and Turin.
Naples is less certain as the southern city faces yet another waste disposal crisis, and the outcome will likely hinge on the second-round run-off.
Some 13 million of Italy's 49 million-strong electorate are eligible in the vote, with weak growth and unemployment as well as local issues uppermost in voters' minds.
Polls opened Sunday at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) and were to close at 10:00 pm, reopening Monday at 7:00 am until 3:00 pm.
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