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Italy PM Silvio Berlusconi wins first confidence vote

December 15, 2010 00:00:00


Managing Director of Jamuna Bank Md Motior Rahman speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a Foundation Training Course organised by the bank's training institute for 7th batch Probationary Officer (1st phase) in the city recently.
Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi has won a vote of confidence in the Senate but must now face a second vote in the lower house, reports BBC.
The vote is expected to be extremely close and if Mr Berlusconi loses, it could spark early elections.
On Monday, Mr Berlusconi urged MPs not to jeopardise the country's stability by ousting him. But his critics say he is too mired in personal scandal and corruption allegations to remain in office.
Mr Berlusconi, 74, is halfway through a five-year term but his position has been weakened by the series of scandals, largely involving his relationships with women.
He has also lost the support of his former closest political ally, Gianfranco Fini, along with dozens of his supporters, depriving him of his automatic majority in the lower house.
Italy's high youth unemployment, budget cuts and a crisis over refuse collection in Naples have added to his problems.
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome said Mr Berlusconi appeared looking very serious in the Senate as the final speeches were made, although his victory was almost certain.
The result was announced slightly earlier than expected, with Mr Berlusconi winning 162 votes to 135.
But victory in the lower house is less certain and could come down to one or two votes. He may decide to resign before the second vote goes ahead.
Correspondents say that even if he does win and manages to convince MPs to broaden the base of his coalition, it will be difficult for Mr Berlusconi to continue to govern with only a one or two-vote majority in the Chamber of Deputies.

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