Italians vote in key election

Italians have begun voting in an unpredictable election critical to European markets as the country suffers its longest economic recession in 20 years.

Polling booths opened at 8am and will close at 10pm on Sunday. On Monday, voters can cast their ballots between 7am and 3pm.

Four candidates are taking part in the first general election since former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, one of those standing, resigned in November 2011 after becoming embroiled in a series of scandals and escalating the country's debt crisis.

Outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti, a former European commissioner, will also compete with the popular wildcard candidate Beppe Grillo, a comedian-turned-politican who leads the protest Five Star Movement party and Pier Luigi Bersani, the centre-left leader of the Democratic Party who led the last opinion polls taken.

Financial markets will watch the vote closely, with sky high public debt in Italy, the eurozone's third largest economy, second only to Greece.

On Thursday, uncertainty surrounding the result helped push the euro to a six-week low against the dollar.

Campaigning ended on Friday with candidates banned from publicly rallying for support in the 24 hours before the polls open. Opinion polls are also not allowed to be published during the fortnight preceding the vote.

Berlusconi apparently broke the rules by speaking to journalists.

In an interview with Greek television reported by Italian media, Berlusconi said: "I contradicted the lords of austerity who are now trying to get rid of me."

Berlusconi's campaign included promising to reimburse Italians an unpopular property tax. He has also won votes by blaming a "hegemonic" Germany for Italy's woes.

The former prime minister said Monti was "subservient and always on his knees in front of Mrs [Angela] Merkel [the German chancellor] and now she does not want to lose him".

"I would give her a run for her money," he said.

European parliament president Martin Schulz has urged Italians not to vote for him.

"Berlusconi has already sent Italy into a tailspin with irresponsible government action and personal capers," Schulz told Germany's Bild newspaper.

Exit polls are expected immediately after voting closes and preliminary official results will begin trickling through later on Monday and perhaps into Tuesday.

Officials have called on Italians to vote amid fears that general disenchantment with politicians could mean a much lower turnout than usual.

Forty-seven million Italians are eligible to vote.

Complex electoral laws mean the rules are different for the composition of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house, and the Senate, the upper house.