Italy election: far-right Brothers of Italy on course to win most votes; Russia ready for ‘constructive relations’ with party –live

Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party is set to lead a coalition; Kremlin welcomes what it calls more constructive' parties leading Italy

• Italian election 2022: live official results

Read this analysis from our Rome correspondent, Angela Giuffrida:

Giorgia Meloni has spent three decades fighting her way to the top of Italian politics. But despite her political prowess, the 45-year-old from Rome, whose strong will and determination has drawn comparisons to Margaret Thatcher, has limited government experience.

If Meloni is confirmed as prime minister over the next few weeks, she will be in charge of steering Italy through one of its most delicate periods, dealing with mammoth challenges from the energy crisis and high inflation to a possible recession and a winter wave of Covid-19.