Scandal-ridden Silvio Berlusconi makes passionate case for keeping him ahead of no confidence vote
Scandal-ridden Silvio Berlusconi makes passionate case for keeping him ahead of no confidence vote
A day ahead of a make-or-break confidence vote that could sink his foundering center-right government, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italyu00a0delivered two speeches to lawmakers yesterday urging their support in order to avoid creating political uncertainty amid an economic crisis that has threatened the country's stability.
"Opening up a crisis now" would be "folly," Berlusconi said, addressing the Senate, where his party holds a majority.
He was scheduled to respond to the discussion about the confidence motions in the lower house yesterday evening.
If Berlusconi loses a confidence vote in either house today, he would be forced to resign and Italy would most likely face early national elections this spring, two years ahead of the scheduled end of the current government's mandate.
Such a vote could usher in a period of confusion with multiple outcomes possible in the parliamentary system.
Yet in a sign of the chaotic political climate here, Berlusconi's center-right coalition is likely to win such early elections even if it loses the no-confidence vote although not necessarily with Berlusconi as prime minister.
The Italian leader no longer holds a majority in the lower house after he split last July with a key ally, Gianfranco Fini, the co-founder of his center-right People of Liberty party.
Fini withdrew four loyalists from the cabinet last month, a move that formalised the political crisis and precipitated the confidence vote.
Fini has formed a breakaway group that has said it will team up with centrist parties to vote against Berlusconi in today's confidence vote.
However, while centrist grouping may have enough power to topple the government, it does not have enough power to form a new majority.
Yesterday, Berlusconi made what he called an "appeal to the moderates," adding that he hoped to "reinforce the government team" rather than facing the collapse of his government with no clear alternative.
He also appealed to his shared history with the breakaway group, reminding them of "the long way we have come together."
Sex Scandals
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The string of sex scandals that have engulfed Berlusconi in the last two years alone have included claims of affairs with four women.
The most damaging was his dalliance with girl Nadia Macri, who claims she was paid 10,000 euros (Rs 6 lakh) to spend two nights with Berlusconi.
Protests
Protestersu00a0 holds a toilet seat with a photo of PM Silvio Berlusconi reading "expired" during a march to protest against Berlusconi's government.
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