Berlusconi wins vote with reduced majority
Source: Agencies |
November 9, 2011, Wednesday
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ITALY'S Premier Silvio Berlusconi won a much-watched vote in parliament in Rome yesterday but failed to get enough support to stay in power much longer, as pressure built for him to resign to calm markets roiled by the European debt crisis.
Berlusconi has refused to heed calls - both from the opposition and his own allies - to step down. But he reportedly told deputies that he needs to "reflect" on the vote tally, admitting finally he had a "problem" with a majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
Berlusconi's government is under intense pressure to enact quick reforms to shore up Italy's defenses against Europe's raging debt crisis. However, a weak coalition and doubts over Berlusconi's leadership have ignited market fears of a looming Italian financial disaster that could bring down the 17-nation eurozone and shock the global economy.
Yesterday's vote, on a routine measure to approve the 2010 state books, garnered 308 votes of approval and none against in the Chamber of Deputies. But 321 deputies abstained from voting - most from the opposition center-left - a tactic that laid bare Berlusconi's shrinking hold on parliament.
Berlusconi's margin was eight shy of the 316 votes he needs to claim an overall majority in the 630-member chamber. Next week, the government has planned a vote on economic reforms demanded by the European Union. But if Berlusconi cannot count on an outright majority, that could spell deep trouble.
"This government does not have the majority!" thundered opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani. "If you have a crumb of sense in front of Italy, give your resignation."
Ahead of the vote, even Berlusconi's top ally Umberto Bossi of the Northern League urged the premier to step down. "We asked him to step aside, take a step to the side," said Bossi, who brought down Berlusconi's first conservative government in 1994.
Berlusconi has refused to heed calls - both from the opposition and his own allies - to step down. But he reportedly told deputies that he needs to "reflect" on the vote tally, admitting finally he had a "problem" with a majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
Berlusconi's government is under intense pressure to enact quick reforms to shore up Italy's defenses against Europe's raging debt crisis. However, a weak coalition and doubts over Berlusconi's leadership have ignited market fears of a looming Italian financial disaster that could bring down the 17-nation eurozone and shock the global economy.
Yesterday's vote, on a routine measure to approve the 2010 state books, garnered 308 votes of approval and none against in the Chamber of Deputies. But 321 deputies abstained from voting - most from the opposition center-left - a tactic that laid bare Berlusconi's shrinking hold on parliament.
Berlusconi's margin was eight shy of the 316 votes he needs to claim an overall majority in the 630-member chamber. Next week, the government has planned a vote on economic reforms demanded by the European Union. But if Berlusconi cannot count on an outright majority, that could spell deep trouble.
"This government does not have the majority!" thundered opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani. "If you have a crumb of sense in front of Italy, give your resignation."
Ahead of the vote, even Berlusconi's top ally Umberto Bossi of the Northern League urged the premier to step down. "We asked him to step aside, take a step to the side," said Bossi, who brought down Berlusconi's first conservative government in 1994.
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