Italy’s election is forecast to produce a hung parliament and its the most contentious vote the country has faced in years.

The result is expected to be known by Monday morning but it could mean weeks of economic and political uncertainty for the Euro zone’s third-largest economy and the rest of Europe.

The economy, immigration, youth unemployment have all been major issues during campaigning with the parties trying to prove to voters they can return the country to its pre-crisis success.

Read more: Italians living abroad are worried their postal votes are getting hijacked

The parties in the running are:

  • Democratic Party, led by Matteo Renzi
  • Forza Italia, led by Silvio Berlusconi
  • Lega Nord (the League), led by Matteo Salvini
  • Five Star Movement, led by Luigi Di Maio
  • Free and Equal, led by Pietro Grasso

There are four possible — and realistic — outcomes though none are certain. Here’s a look at what the most likely outcomes will mean.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

1) No majority

If no single single party or coalition wins a parliamentary majority there will be gridlock.

Most recent polls showed the right-wing coalition with 38% (with 17% going to Forza Italia 13% to Lega Nord), 28% for Five Star Movement, and 26% to the centre-left coalition led by the Democratic Party.

However, many were still undecided. If this scenario bears out there then there will be a hung parliament.

If there is no majority on Monday morning then prime minister Paolo Gentiloni will remain in power with parliament meeting again on 23 March to select new speakers for the lower House and the Senate.

The parties will then negotiate and attempt to find someone who could command a majority, under the direction of President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.

If they are unsuccessful new elections could be called — and there could be changes to the electoral system to a more winner-takes-all contest.

Mattarella’s goal is to find a government that can get the 2019 budget through parliament before the end of 2018.

2) A right-wing coalition

A right-wing coalition would bring together four parties, the biggest of which is Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia, followed by the far-right League.

If the coalition wins a majority Berlusconi and League leader Salvini have agreed that whoever comes first of the two parties will lead the government.

However, Berlusconi is banned from public office due to a tax fraud investigation.

He’s named the president of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani as his choice in his stead but Tajani has not said whether he’d give up the presidency.

Tajani tweeted he had told Berlusconi he was ready “to serve Italy”.

3) A grand centre coalition

This is potentially the best scenario for stocks in Italy and markets in Europe.

This would involve a broad coalition that includes the Democratic Party, as well as parts of the centre-right alliance such as media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party.

This has been described as “the least-worst option”, by Roberto D’Alimonte, a political science professor at Rome’s Luiss University.

Unfortunately, it’s one of the most unlikely outcomes.

4) Populists take power

Italy’s biggest parties have all ruled out an alliance with the Five Star Movement, co-founded by comedian Beppe Grillo.

Oxford Economics analysts give the Five Star Movement no more than a one in 20 chance of forming a populist-led coalition government.

However, the League’s Salvini said in October that if the center-right didn’t win a majority, he’d call Five Star co-founder .

Both parties want to scrap a pension reform which raised the retirement age, overhaul EU treaties and have ditching the euro as an option.