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Support for Italy's Berlusconi hits record low-poll

by Reuters
Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:53 GMT

* La Repubblica poll shows PM approval rating at 29 pct

* Berlusconi image hurt by corruption, prostitution trials

ROME, June 15 (Reuters) - Voter support for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has hit a record low, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday, days after his government suffered a crushing referendum loss.

The survey by the IPR polling institute for the left-leaning La Repubblica daily showed Berlusconi's personal approval rating at 29 percent in June, down from 31 percent in April and 40 percent at the start of 2011.

The survey reflects a steady decline in Berlusconi's popularity, which has been hit by a series of trials on corruption and underage prostitution charges and criticism for failing to boost Italy's sluggish economic growth.

Some 60 percent of respondents said they had little or no confidence in Berlusconi, up from 58 percent in April.

Confidence in his centre-right government was stable at a record low of 23 percent.

Italians voted overwhelmingly in favour of four proposals to repeal Berlusconi-era laws on nuclear energy, water privatisation and trial immunity for government ministers in referendums earlier this week.

The referendum results followed heavy local election losses, which saw the financial capital Milan fall to the left.

When asked on voting intentions in the poll, 42.5 percent said they would vote for parties on the centre-left, up from 41.5 percent in April and topping the 39.0 percent who said they would vote for parties on the centre-right. (Reporting by Catherine Hornby)

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