Berlusconi offers pact with opponents ahead of vote

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BEIJING, China: Chinese customers sort through glass beads that they buy to make jewelry at a market here Thursday. China's upcoming political changes represent a breakthrough chance to boost its economy by accelerating reforms and fostering innovation, a

ROME, Dec 13 (AFP): Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Monday offered to strike a deal with his centre-right opponents on the eve of a crucial confidence vote, warning a political crisis would be "folly."
"I want to reconstitute the alliance of all the moderate forces that were at the origin of our political engagement," Berlusconi said in a speech to the Senate, or upper house of parliament, ahead of Tuesday's vote.
He offered a new "legislative pact" with the opposition Union of the Centre (UDC) party and with the allies of speaker of parliament Gianfranco Fini, whose break with the ruling coalition caused the current political impasse.
Berlusconi faces a knife-edge vote in the lower house of parliament that could either lead to the collapse of his government or see the resilient Italian leader, who first won elections in 1994, bounce back once again.
"I ask you... to reflect on the political folly that opening a crisis without visible and credible solutions would be today," Berlusconi said.
"Our country is being shaken by serious tensions that concern the heart of the economic system-the financial credibility of the state," he added.
"The prospects for stability and the hopes for growth of the economic and financial system depend on the confidence votes," he continued.
There will be confidence votes in the both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies starting at around 0800 GMT on Tuesday but the attention is mainly on the vote in the lower house, where Berlusconi's support is seen as weaker.
If he loses the vote, Berlusconi will be forced to offer his resignation.
Analysts say the vote is just too close to call but even if he wins with a paper-thin majority, Italy may have to hold elections before the government's mandate runs out in 2013 in order to prevent a paralysis in parliament.
The contest is so tight that even President Giorgio Napolitano-who is expected to play an important role in any political deal-making after the vote-said "a crystal ball" would be needed to predict its outcome.