Center-left leader Romano Prodi won in Italy's election on Tuesday, but the tiny margin raised concerns about a political paralysis, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's allies refusing to recognize their defeat. Prodi's victory in the Senate remains officially unconfirmed 24 hours after the polls closed.

Results for the Chamber of Deputies gave Prodi 49.79% of the votes and Berlusconi 49.73%, at a difference of 25,224 votes out of nearly 38 million cast. 12 hours after the polls closed, Prodi said this margin is enough for him to consider a victory. "We can govern for five years," Prodi told reporters.

"My government will be politically and technically strong." French European Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna sent a message congradulating Prodi saying he will "play an essential role in the relaunching of Europe". His coalition was awarded 341 of the lower house's 630 seats despite its margin of victory of under 0.1%, while Berlusconi received 277, with 12 overseas seats yet to be allocated.

Prodi, a former European Commission president, promised to put Europe at the center of his new administration and have a "constructive relationship" with the United States. The uncertain results may mean another period of political instability for Italy, situation frequent in the country's postwar political history.

The 83.6% of Italians who voted have showed a growing interest in the race between the two leaders. Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, is the first Prime Minister who served out a full five-year term since 1945 and kept the country entertained with his mistakes and gaffes, while Prodi has earned a reputation for his dullness.