Berlusconi coalition leading in Italy Senate race - TV projections

The centre-right coalition led by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was leading in the race for the Italian Senate, according to updated projections from television stations after vote counting began on Monday.

Polls fom La 7, SkyTG24 and state television RAI put the coalition between Berlusconi's People of Freedom partyand the pro-devolution Northern League ahead in the overall national vote count.

The projections from La 7 also put the coalition ahead in the key regions of Lombardy, Sicily and Campania.

According to the Tecne institute, Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party and the Northern League were ahead with 31 percent to 29.7 percent for the PD and smaller left-wing parties. The Piepoli institute gave the right 31 percent to 29.5 percent for the left.

The upper house is elected on a region-by-region basis, meaning the result will be decided by individual results rather than an overall national vote.