Acasual visitor to Rome might be forgiven for failing to notice that Italy is holding a general election on February 24th and 25th. Along the streets a few scruffy, amateurish posters flap disconsolately in the wind. Many are for the local and not the national election. Most are ignored by scurrying passers-by. It is a similar story in the rest of the country, with election rallies attended by remarkably few. There is more interest in Lombardy, the country's most populous region, partly because it may directly affect the make-up of the next government and partly because it is also holding a tight regional race; and also in Sicily, where the polls are too close to call. But most Italians show little interest in the contest.
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