The contested ballot papers in the Italian elections last week have turned out to be lower than expected according to the ministry of the interior. There are now only about 2,000 disputed ballots rather than the 45,000 estimated at the beginning of the week by the ministry. This does not make enough to overturn the 25,000 majority in the chamber of deputies won by the LUnione coalition led by Roman Prodi. His opponent in the general elections, Silvio Berlusconi, has still not conceded defeat for his centre-right coalition Casa delle Libert coalition so Italians will have to wait for the the next step, which is an official confirmation by the Court of Cassation. Given the Easter holiday this is not expected now until next week.