ROME – Italy’s political limbo ended yesterday when the Supreme Court ruled that Romano Prodi had beaten Silvio Berlusconi in the country’s bitterly fought general election.

The court ruled that Mr. Prodi’s center-Left coalition had won by just fewer than 25,000 votes in the disputed lower house, a margin that was almost unchanged from the initial verdict 10 days ago, despite a succession of claims of voting fraud and shrill demands for recounts by Mr. Berlusconi.

Allies of Mr. Berlusconi, 69, who remains prime minister until a new government is sworn in, insisted that their leader and his center-Right coalition would not concede defeat until every last suspect ballot form had been checked.

But a spokesman for the billionaire magnate who has governed for the past five years said that the prime minister would “of course accept the decision.” Mr. Berlusconi was meeting aides last night to prepare his formal response.

Mr. Prodi’s response to the court ruling was instant, as was that of his supporters, who organized impromptu street parties.

“Finally it is over,” a former president of the European Commission, Mr. Prodi, 66, whose customary gray appearance was replaced yesterday by a broad smile, said.

Before Mr. Prodi can assume power the new parliament, which convenes next week, must first elect a new president to replace Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, whose term ends on May 18.

Official confirmation of the Senate vote, which the center-Left won by a two-seat majority, is still awaited by individual courts of appeal.