Predictions of populist, euroskeptic victories ahead of major European elections last year didn’t fully materialize—but Italy is different. WSJ’s Niki Blasina explains why the March 4 election in the eurozone’s third-largest economy could have serious repercussions for the European Union. ROME—Italians went to the polls Sunday in a national election that has underscored themes that have dominated other important votes in Europe over the past year: the disruptive power of populist parties, a fractured electorate and the continued fallout from the migration and economic crises. The final opinion polls, which were published in mid-February ahead of a two-week blackout, suggested that no group would emerge with a parliamentary majority, an outcome that could usher in a protracted period of political instability...

Source: Wall Street Journal March 04, 2018 06:11 UTC