Bersani leads after Italy centre-left primary

Italian centre-left Democratic Party chief Pier Luigi Bersani is set for a run-off vote next week against young pretender Matteo Renzi, after millions of supporters chose their nominee for next year's general election.

With 40 per cent of the votes counted from Sunday's balloting, Bersani was in front with 44.3 per cent support, followed by Florence mayor Renzi with 36.3 per cent, the organising committee said.

More than four million supporters took part in the vote which will now head for a second round run-off this Sunday.

A general election is expected in April 2013 with the winner of the centre-left nomination one of the favourites to replace Mario Monti as Italy's next prime minister. All the most recent polls show the Democratic Party coming first in the general election.

Observers were surprised by the large turnout for the primaries and many polling stations were overwhelmed, with large queues forming outside.

More and more Italians are feeling the pain of a recession that began in the second half of last year and is forecast to continue into next year.