Beppe Grillo was expected to cause a stir in the Italian elections.<br/> <br />And the comedian-turned-politician seems to have done just that.<br/> <br />First exit polls showed Grillo's Five-Star-Movement received 19% of the vote for the lower house - which would make it the single biggest party in the house.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Beppe Grillo, Comedian, saying (Italian):<br/> <br />"This is a country in ruins. We have to rebuild it from start, look for new ideas, extraordinary ideas when it comes to schools, sanitation and how to run the country through citizens."<br/> <br />Many Italians are fed up with high unemployment and austerity - and there were fears the vote would be split, leaving Italy without a strong and stable government able to implement reforms.<br/> <br />That may now be the case.<br/> <br />UPSOUND<br/> <br />The initial exit polls also suggested the centre-left coalition led by Pier Luigi Bersani had a narrow lead of around 34% for the lower and upper houses, ahead of Silvio Berlusconi's coalition with the Northern League.<br/> <br />Outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti's coalition came in at around 9.5%.<br/> <br />Later vote projections put Berlusconi's centre-right ahead in the upper house, leading to fears of a hung parliament.<br/> <br />That saw shares lose all their early gains, and the spread between Italian and German 10-year debt widened again.<br/> <br />Riccardo Barbieri from Mizuho International says Grillo could be seen as the big winner in the vote.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Riccardo Barbieri, Chief European Economist, Mizuho International, saying (English):<br/> <br />"People who voted for him didn't mind that some of his ideas were a bit off the wall, but they just focussed on the protest against corruption and this need for reform of the political system. Reforms like introducing tougher rules, tougher anti-corruption rules, reform of the judicial system."<br/> <br />An inconclusive result or Berlusconi back in power are the nightmare scenarios for investors.<br/> <br />Uncertainty is exactly what Italy - and the euro zone - doesn't need.
