Center-Right Group Leading Italian Vote

Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right coalition took a slight lead in regional elections Sunday, falling short of a resounding victory in the media magnate’s campaign to return to power, exit polls suggest.

The local races were seen as a prelude to national elections; they offered the first direct test of the two big alliances formed after Berlusconi’s government collapsed in December.

Berlusconi said the outcome shows that voters want what he wants - general elections “as soon as possible.”