Italians mull vote ahead of elections that promise little change

Italian voters yesterday mulled over their choice on the eve of an election that offers little hope for significant change as the country faces an economic slowdown and continued political instability.
While voter surveys have predicted a return to the premiership for a third time by centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, his two-digit lead over challenger Walter Veltroni has narrowed at the approach of the Sunday-Monday vote.
In a flurry of television appearances late Friday, Berlusconi sharpened his attacks against Veltroni, accusing him of lying 43 times in a single interview, while the former Rome mayor said a new Berlusconi cabinet would be "a deja vu ... like bringing back" has-been football players for a new season.